“Trump made a mistake with the sanctions, I will talk to him and ask him to revoke the decision”, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a journalist in Rome on Monday in his first public response to the US president’s announcement that the US would impose sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, Russia’s two largest oil com-
panies.
In addition, Trump has exhorted Hungary– along with Slovakia and Turkey – to stop buying gas and oil from Russia and prepare plans to obtain energy from other sources. Matt Whitaker, the US ambassador to NATO, said Washington expects countries that continue to import Russian oil and gas to “develop and implement a plan” to move away from Russian energy sources.
Speaking to Fox News, Whitaker noted that, unlike many of its neighbours, “Hungary has not developed any plans or taken active steps” toward such a transition.
He added that the US is working with Croatia and other nearby countries to support Hungary in achieving energy independence, since “the pipeline through which Russian oil now comes is likely to shut down in a few
years”.
US President Trump holds all the cards and at present Russia appears weak, said Whitaker. He recalled that Trump said earlier that he will not meet Russian President Vladimir Putin without being sure of reaching a successful agreement. Whitaker said the Russians ought to end the war, as they are not gaining any territory, and they are losing on the battlefield against Ukraine.