WASHINGTON (AP) — Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says his country has received an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy after a meeting in the White House with President Donald Trump, an allowance that will keep Russian oil and gas flowing to Hungary in a sign of the close affinity between the two leaders.
Orbán, a longtime Trump ally, had come to Washington seeking to convince the president to allow Hungary to continue importing Russian oil and gas without being subject to sanctions Trump's administration has placed on Russian fossil fuels. A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly, said Hungary will get an exemption for a year.
Hungary has also been under heavy pressure to end its reliance on Russian energy from the European Union, most of which has heavily cut or ceased its imports of Russian oil and gas.
The nationalist Hungarian leader has called access to Russian energy a “vital” issue for his landlocked country, and said he planned to discuss with Trump the “consequences for the Hungarian people” if the sanctions took effect.
During a press briefing with Hungarian media following his talks with Trump, Orbán said Hungary had "been granted a complete exemption from sanctions” affecting Russian gas delivered to Hungary from the TurkStream pipeline, and oil from the Druzhba pipeline.
“We asked the president to lift the sanctions,” Orbán said. “We agreed and the president decided, and he said that the sanctions will not be applied to these two pipelines.”
Hungary agreed to buy U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) as part of the discussions, the U.S. State Department said in a fact sheet, noting contracts were expected to be worth about $600 million. The two nations also agreed to work together on nuclear energy, including small modular reactors.
Hungary will also purchase nuclear fuel from the U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Company, Orbán said. That fuel will be used to power Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant, which until now has relied on Russian-supplied nuclear fuel, though Hungarian officials earlier stressed that Budapest will continue its purchase of Russian nuclear fuel as well.
A large delegation of cabinet members, business leaders and numerous right-wing political influencers with close connections to Hungary’s government accompanied Orbán to Washington. The delegation rented a 220-passenger commercial jet from Hungarian carrier Wizz Air for the journey.
Prior to Orbán’s arrival on Thursday, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced a resolution calling on Hungary to end its dependence on Russian energy.
The resolution was co-signed by 10 senators including Republicans Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, as well as Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Chris Coons of Delaware. It “expresses concern that Hungary has shown no sign of reducing its dependence on Russian fossil fuels,” and urges Budapest to adhere to a European Union plan to cease all Russian energy imports into the bloc by the end of 2027.
“Europe has made extraordinary progress cutting its energy ties with Moscow, but Hungary’s actions continue to undermine collective security and embolden the Kremlin,” Shaheen wrote in a statement. The resolution, she continued, “sends a clear message that when it comes to buying Russian energy, all allies should be held to the same standard, and that includes Hungary.”
After arriving in Washington, Orbán and some of his top officials met with Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who in September was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup after an election loss. Orbán posted on social media: “We stand firmly with the Bolsonaros in these challenging times — friends and allies who never give up. Keep fighting: political witch-hunts have no place in democracy, truth and justice must prevail!”
Spike reported from Budapest, Hungary.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during a meeting with President Donald Trump, right, in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump, right, meets with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo developed a reputation for making rapid returns from injury during his rise to superstardom, but the Milwaukee Bucks forward acknowledges those days may be drawing to a close.
Antetokounmpo had 19 points and 11 rebounds Monday night in Milwaukee’s 108-81 loss to the Boston Celtics, his first action since straining his right calf on Jan. 23. The two-time MVP has missed a career-high 29 games this season, 23 of those with calf injuries.
That's a new experience for Antetokounmpo, who had grown accustomed to returning earlier than expected from injuries.
“I’ve just got to be smarter moving forward, because things that I was able to do in the past maybe I’m not able to do now,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve just got to be more methodical with my rehab.”
During Milwaukee's 2021 playoff run, Antetokounmpo missed just two games with a hyperextended left knee and went on to earn NBA Finals MVP honors while leading the Bucks to their first championship in half a century. Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in the series-ending Game 6 victory over the Phoenix Suns.
This season has proved more frustrating.
“I’m not old, but I’m older, for sure,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’m not 24 years old anymore. I’m 31.”
Antetokounmpo missed eight games with a right calf strain in December, came back and then strained his calf again. Calf issues also caused him to miss Milwaukee's 2024 first-round playoff loss to Indiana.
“When you’re dealing with soft-tissue issues, it’s hard,” Antetokounmpo said. “I’ve dealt with knee pain in the past. It’s totally different. If you're not able to take care of your soft-tissue injuries, they can linger. I think that’s what happened this year. I feel like I've been playing the whole year with a deficit.”
The same could be said for Antetokounmpo's team.
Milwaukee is 15-16 with Antetokounmpo and 11-18 without him as the Bucks are facing increasingly long odds in their bid for a 10th straight playoff berth.
The Bucks are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings, 3 1/2 games behind 10th-place Charlotte. The teams that finish seventh through 10th compete in a tournament for the East’s two final playoff spots.
Milwaukee went 8-2 without Antetokounmpo from Feb. 3-25 but has lost its last three games by a combined 79 points. Bucks coach Doc Rivers altered his rotation Monday by giving Ousmane Dieng his second start of the season and not playing Kyle Kuzma.
Forward Bobby Portis referred to Milwaukee's 8-2 stretch as “fool's gold,” pointing out that many of those wins came against teams with losing records.
“Obviously a lot of ground we have to cover to get into a play-in situation, a playoff situation,” Portis said. “New waters for us, new uncharted waters for us. Really not used to being in this situation, but I just think … staying together is big. So many ways different guys can go. You can start thinking about yourself. You can start thinking about summer, whatever it is.”
The Bucks will try to make their push amid speculation about Antetokounmpo's future.
In October, Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million. He otherwise could become a free agent at the end of next season.
Although Antetokounmpo repeatedly has discussed how much he loves playing in Milwaukee, he also has prioritized wanting to play on a team that’s committed to competing for championships. The Bucks have lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last three seasons.
Now they'll have their hands full getting to the postseason at all. In the meantime, Antetokounmpo will have his minutes restricted while he works toward full health and gets accustomed to playing with Dieng and Cam Thomas.
“I’m just happy that I’m on the court,” Antetokounmpo said. “It doesn’t matter if I play 18 minutes, 20 minutes, 22, whatever, I’m just happy that I’m out there. I’m just in a mindset where I try not to take nothing for granted.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Monday, March 2, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo watches teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo watches teammates during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
