Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Friday he would attempt to secure an exemption for Hungary from new US sanctions on Russian oil when he visits Washington next week.

"We must use the pipelines or we won't have any energy," Orban said in comments to Hungary’s state broadcaster on Friday.

"We must make the Americans understand the difficulties of this situation if we want exceptions from the US sanctions on Russian energy," he added.

Orban was speaking after the administration of US President Donald Trump last week announced sanctions targeting Russian oil firms, affecting foreign buyers like Hungary.

While most European Union member states sharply reduced or halted imports of Russian fossil fuels after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Hungary and Slovakia have maintained their pipeline deliveries.

Hungary has even increased the share of Russian oil in its energy mix.

Orbán, a Trump ally, aims to secure Hungary’s continued access to Russian energy and finalize an economic cooperation package with the U.S. during his US visit on November 7th.

The Hungarian leader, widely considered Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest partner in the EU, has maintained warm relations with the Kremlin despite the war, and has taken a combative stance toward Ukraine, portraying the neighboring country as a major threat to Hungary's security and economy.

"Whoever supports Ukraine today, supports a Ukraine that wants to wage a war, and supports the war itself” Hungary’s populist prime minister said.

"It's not just about me meeting the president of the United States of America. Of course, from our point of view, it is important that the head of the Hungarian government meets the American president, but we will almost make a "Hungarian day” in Washington” he added.