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During the race for the White House in 2016, Viktor Orbán emerged as the exclusive EU chief to support the Republican candidate. This backing came as no shock, in light of the Hungarian leader's embrace of divisive notions including the "great replacement" theory and the restrictions against media freedom. Commentators observe that Mr Orbán essentially laid the groundwork for Trump's base, with ex-Trump adviser Steve Bannon once praising Orbán as Trump's forerunner.

Political Favors Before Hungary's Polls

In recent days, with crucial Hungarian elections only half a year off, the American leader reciprocated with support. While Orbán aims for a fifth term in office presiding over a nation he calls an illiberal democracy, his Fidesz party currently trails in surveys. A meeting to Washington produced not just a few signed Maga baseball caps; it brought considerably more valuable electoral advantages.

Special Treatment and Economic Protections

Even though before instructing European nations on the necessity to halt all energy imports from the Russian Federation, and warning of penalties against nations persisting to purchase Russian crude, Mr Trump approved to allow a special exemption for the Hungarian government – the biggest user in the EU of Russian crude. According to Mr Orbán, the Trump administration also pledged to extend a fiscal buffer to the Hungarian authorities if it faces any later issues, particularly since Brussels continues to withhold billions in EU funding to Hungary because of failures to uphold the rule of law.

The details of this agreement are somewhat murky. However Donald Trump recently demonstrated his inclination to support political friends as the America extended a a $20 billion loan to the Argentine leader, the South American leader. Even though the Hungarian PM did not secure a Trump trip to Budapest to Budapest, the Washington talks nevertheless proved a profitable day’s work.

Brussels' Worries and International Implications

In the corridors of the EU, the US president's move will have highlighted the strategic importance of the coming election, before which the opposition candidate, the rival candidate, has a clear edge in the polls. EU chiefs know not to anticipate principled consistency from the Trump White House, and have grown used to the American leader's attempts to undermine the European Union. Yet Mr Orbán’s exemption – obtained in exchange for an deal to acquire American natural gas and nuclear power – flagrantly undermines European goals to phase out imports of Russian energy by 2027.

• Starting in 2022, the largest EU buyers of Russian oil, Hungary and Slovakia, have provided substantial funds to the Kremlin’s war effort.
• Meanwhile, Hungary has consistently deployed the veto power to impede moves in Ukraine’s EU accession talks.
• As Europe strives to develop a cohesive plan for backing Ukraine, and bolstering its position in any upcoming peace talks, Orbán's pro-Russia stance at the negotiating table is still a key barrier.

Opposition Stance

Mr Magyar has avoided promising a significant change on Ukraine, and directed his efforts on domestic issues, while stressing the importance for Hungary to finally behave as a productive EU partner. After years of so many years of trolling, Brussels can only remain patient. Orbán's disregard to fundamental European principles, such as the support for minority protections and the autonomy of civic groups, has long been a humiliating embarrassment for the bloc. His persistent opposition on Ukrainian matters could harm its future security.