On March 26, 2026, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, alongside Senator Thom Tillis, put forward legislation aimed at sanctioning senior Hungarian government officials accused of impeding international assistance to Ukraine.

The proposed measure would require the US President to impose asset-freezing sanctions and visa bans on high-level officials in the Government of Hungary if they are found to have directed, approved, or otherwise contributed to efforts to delay or block financial or security support for Ukraine. This would apply to assistance provided through bilateral arrangements as well as multilateral frameworks, including the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The bill also targets officials involved in approving or maintaining Hungary’s imports of Russian oil and natural gas, aligning with broader Western efforts to curb Russia’s energy revenues.

An exemption is provided for cases where Hungary formally adopts and begins implementing a transparent, time-bound strategy to reduce its reliance on Russian energy imports. Such a plan must include a binding commitment to significantly diversify oil and gas supplies before 2028. To qualify, Hungarian authorities must also refrain from any obstructive actions related to Ukraine assistance for a continuous period of at least 180 days. The legislation comes amid reports that Hungary has threatened to suspend gas supplies to Ukraine in response to disruptions in Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding energy security and regional cooperation