Orban announced that Hungary would face no restrictions or time limits on energy imports, saying the deal safeguards the government’s policy of keeping household utility costs low.
"Hungary continues to have the lowest energy prices in Europe," he told state news agency MTI.
"The sanctions that could limit supplies or make energy imports more expensive for Hungary do not apply," Orban added.
Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on X that Budapest was “grateful for this decision, which guarantees Hungary’s energy security.”
Earlier on Friday, speaking to public radio, Orban said he had not asked Washington for "any gifts or favours," but for recognition that recent sanctions on Russian energy could leave landlocked countries like Hungary "in a hopeless situation."
During the visit, Orban also announced new US investments in Hungary.
The two countries signed defence and space industry cooperation agreements, granting Hungary access to advanced US weaponry.
The Hungarian government confirmed plans to purchase US defence equipment worth USD 700 million, according to a statement from the US State Department.
Szijjarto also said Hungary had signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States covering the purchase and storage of American nuclear fuel – the first such deal in the country’s history.
The USD 114 million agreement includes technology for spent fuel storage at Hungary’s Paks nuclear plant and collaboration on small modular reactors.
Russia’s state-owned Rosatom is currently constructing two new 1,200 MW reactors at Paks in a EUR 12 billion project financed by a Russian state loan.
Orban said that Budapest and Washington had reached an understanding to lift sanctions imposed under the Biden administration that had affected the Paks II project.
The US State Department confirmed that the two sides would cooperate to make Budapest a hub for the growing Central European small modular reactor market, using leading American technologies to boost transatlantic industry.
Hungary has also agreed to buy US liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth around USD 600 million, the department said.
(ał)
Source: PAP