Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán says his country has received an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy after a meeting in the White House with President Donald Trump, an allowance that will keep Russian oil and gas flowing to Hungary in a sign of the close affinity between the two leaders.

Hungary has secured an agreement with Washington on a "financial shield" to protect its economy and public finances, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said after talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Hungarian leader said he has managed to convince US President Donald Trump to grant his country a full exemption from sanctions for the purchase of Russian energy, after detailing to him the dire consequences it would have on the Hungarian people.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Trump's economic record against media questions, prompting Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to request hiring her.

The exemption is a major prize for Viktor Orbán, whose 15-year rule is seen as a blueprint by the MAGA movement in Washington.

President Trump welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to the White House in what has been billed as a consequential meeting for the two conservative leaders nearly a year into Trump’s

President Donald Trump said European leaders should respect Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban “very strongly because he's been right on immigration."