Oil the wheels Orbán claims a US victory - but is his grip slipping?

As Viktor Orbán would tell it, he had the perfect meeting with Donald Trump.

- Flora Garamvolgyi and Andrew Roth WASHINGTON

After visiting the White House at the start of the month, the embattled Hungarian prime minister declared victory, saying he had secured an indefinite exemption from US sanctions on oil and gas imported from Russia. The deal would shield Hungarians from rocketing energy prices ahead of parliamentary elections next year and potentially boost Orbán’s chances of extending his 15-year rule.

Since then, Hungary and the US have disputed the terms of the deal, and the White House is said to be wary of throwing its full weight behind Orbán as he faces a potential revolt at the polls that could bring the opposition to power.

“Orbán hopes words will be enough to keep him above water,” said a diplomatic source in Washington, adding that Trump and his allies had become increasingly sceptical of the Hungarian leader’s chances in next April’s elections.

The dispute is whether Hungary has received a temporary or permanent reprieve from sanctions targeted at Russian energy majors Rosneft and Lukoil, which have continued to supply Hungary and Slovakia despite anger from other countries in the European Union.