Hungary should not get a free pass to fund Putin’s war.

On November 8, President Donald Trump granted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán a one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and gas — a carveout that directly benefits one of Europe’s most authoritarian leaders and one of Russia’s closest allies inside the EU.

This deal is more than bad optics. It’s a betrayal of Ukraine, a gift to Putin, and a dangerous signal that U.S. sanctions can be manipulated to reward ideological allies — even when they defy core democratic values.

Under Orbán, Hungary has:

• Maintained warm ties with Vladimir Putin despite Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine
• Undermined press freedom, judicial independence, and political opposition
• Become a model for far-right movements seeking to erode democracy

Sanctions against Russia are meant to hold the Kremlin accountable and weaken its ability to wage war. Allowing Orbán’s government to sidestep those sanctions — while profiting through U.S. gas contracts and nuclear fuel deals — sends the wrong message to both our allies and our adversaries.

We call on Congress, the State Department, and the White House National Security Council to:

• Immediately review and reverse the carveout granted to Hungary under U.S. sanctions policy
• Ensure that no future exemptions are made for governments that align with Russian aggression or undermine democratic norms
• Reaffirm U.S. support for unified sanctions enforcement among NATO and EU allies

This carveout is not about energy security — it’s about politics. And it weakens the credibility of every sanction the U.S. imposes going forward.

Add your name if you believe there should be no special deals for those who cozy up to Putin.