WASHINGTON: The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from US sanctions for using Russian oil and gas, a White House official said on Friday, after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban pressed his case for a reprieve during a friendly meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington. Last month, Trump imposed Ukraine-related sanctions on Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft that carried the threat of further sanctions on entities in countries that buy oil from those firms.

The Hungarian PM is a key ally of Moscow and has stymied European support for Kyiv

Hungary's nationalist prime minister will seek permission to buy Russian oil despite US sanctions.