Trump and Orban Discuss Russian Oil Imports, Energy Security, and War Impact

US President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban recently held a phone conversation focusing primarily on energy security, especially Hungary's import of Russian oil, alongside discussions on Russia's war against Ukraine, global economic conditions, tariffs, and the potential for peace. Trump has urged NATO allies to suspend Russian oil imports to weaken Russia's war economy and expressed his intent to personally persuade Orbán to stop purchasing Russian oil. Orbán's government highlighted the geographical and economic challenges Hungary faces in diversifying its energy sources, emphasizing the limited alternatives and the importance of keeping utility costs low. Hungarian officials, including Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, stressed that energy supply issues are pragmatic rather than ideological and affirmed regular communication with the US administration. The talks reflect a complex dynamic where Orbán's close political alignment with Trump coexists with Hungary's reliance on Russian fossil fuels, even as the US and EU intensify efforts to cut Russian energy imports. Both leaders also discussed broader geopolitical concerns and the hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.