Wedoany.com Report-Dec 05,  Hungary has asked the United States for a waiver of recent sanctions so that it can continue to use Gazprom Bank to pay Russia for gas.

The bank, which handles payments for most of Gazprom PJSC's gas exports, was sanctioned last month as the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden stepped up penalties against Moscow for its war in Ukraine.

Hungary, along with other countries that rely on Russian gas imports, warned that the US decision posed a potential risk to energy security. Turkey has also sought an exemption from the sanctions.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Siarto met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak as well as the heads of major energy companies in Moscow on Monday to seek a solution.

Speaking at a briefing after meeting NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Siarto said the country had also submitted a request for sanctions waivers to the United States on Tuesday. Hungary also pays for nuclear fuel through Russian banks, he said earlier.

"The US foreign minister himself has said that they are willing to have some form of consultation with their Allies on sanctions against Gazprom Bank," Mr Ciarto said.

The foreign minister added that the United States pays for Russian uranium through banks that are exempt from sanctions, while Hungary is also seeking a similar exemption for Gazprom Bank.

The European Commission said earlier this week that the sanctions were not currently affecting gas supplies from the 27-nation bloc. The EU's executive arm is analysing the situation and contacting affected companies and countries.

Meanwhile, the European Commission is working on a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels in Russia, which will be presented in the first quarter of next year. The share of Russian piped gas in EU imports will fall from more than 40% in 2021 to around 8% in 2023.