Trump is set to host Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the White House today for a bilateral lunch.
The president is welcoming his U.S. ally after the Trump administration recently sanctioned Russia’s two largest oil companies. Hungary is among the European countries that purchase Russian oil and Trump noted last week that Orbán has asked for an exemption from sanctions on Russian oil.
“We haven’t granted one, but he’s a friend of mine,” Trump told reporters last week.
In September, Trump was asked to address Orbán on his refusal to stop buying Russian oil.
“Well, he’s a friend of mine. I have not spoken to him, but I have a feeling if I did, he might stop, and I think I’ll be doing that,” he said at the time.