Hungary

Budapest, October 18, 2026. Hungarian media are treating Donald Trump's decision as a matter of energy and electoral calendar as much as war. Telex, quoting the AP agency, writes that the American president suspended by decree, two days before the deadline, the vast package of sanctions against Russia that he had himself signed a month earlier. In his communication to Congress, Trump advances only one justification: the measure serves the interest of the United States. Telex notes that the White House did not provide a detailed explanation.

The text, which bears the name of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who died in July, targeted Russia's energy, defense industry, and "ghost fleet". Index and 444, which quote the MTI agency's dispatch, specify that it authorized customs duties of up to 100% on imports from the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas, as well as the five countries that most help circumvent sanctions. The text was to come into effect on October 18. According to the decree, the exemption remains valid as long as Trump or his senior officials do not judge that "other measures are necessary".

The economic reading dominates. Telex and Index quote analysts, Reuters for the latter: these measures could have further increased oil and fuel prices a few weeks before the midterm elections, where Republicans are defending their narrow majority in both chambers. Telex adds that Americans are already suffering from increased costs, largely due to the war between the United States and Israel against Iran. The three sites recall that China and India, major buyers of Russian crude, had criticized the project, and that Trump had announced the previous week that Russia could supply hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel to the global market to reduce prices.

The reaction from Kiev comes second. 444 reports that Volodymyr Zelensky speaks of a "sanctions blackout" and asserts that the easing and Vladimir Putin's financial gains only encourage him to continue his attacks. He mentions one of the strongest strikes of the previous day against Ukraine's energy sector, with more than 15 electricity production and transportation facilities targeted. He estimates, however, that the Graham law can still weigh on Moscow, and he calls for counting every vote in its favor in Congress. The Hungarian articles in the corpus do not quote the Kremlin's reaction.