Zelensky’s adviser defends PM Orbán: Claims Hungarian leader is ‘not pro-Russian at all’
The war in Ukraine has intensified with North Korean troops bolstering Russia in Kursk, prompting Ukraine, with Western backing, to expand the use of its longer-range weapons. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak was questioned about PM Orbán’s perceived pro-Russian leanings and shared insights on Hungarian-Ukrainian ties, highlighting doubts about Russia’s rational leadership in an interview with Telex.
Russia is not rational
According to the interview with Telex, Mykhailo Podolyak thinks that PM Orbán’s calls for early negotiations in the EU reflect a belief in dialogue over escalation, a stance rooted in rational diplomacy. However, Ukrainian officials argue that this approach misunderstands Russia’s motivations and leadership under Vladimir Putin. While PM Orbán’s preference for dialogue aims to foster alliances and stability, the Ukrainian adviser warns that Russia operates on emotional, not rational, grounds. Driven by resentment over its Cold War defeat, Russia seeks revenge rather than cooperation, prioritising territorial aggression over lucrative economic opportunities with Europe. This, they argue, highlights the futility of negotiating with a state fuelled by hatred and ambition rather than pragmatism.
Is PM Orbán pro-Russian?
Mykhailo Podolyak says that despite perceptions, Ukraine does not view PM Orbán as pro-Russian but rather as a pragmatic leader prioritising Hungary’s national interests. While his actions may occasionally align with Russian goals, Ukrainian officials stress that Hungary remains committed to its shared values and agreements as part of the EU. Ukraine actively engages with Hungary through high-level dialogue and specialised committees, aiming for gradual progress in their relations. Ukrainian officials emphasise that no European leader, including PM Orbán, is ideologically aligned with Russia, recognising the long-term dangers of its violent and destabilising policies despite any short-term advantages.
Hungarian-language education in Transcarpathia
PM Orbán’s government has long expressed concerns over the preservation of Hungarian-language education in Transcarpathia, a sensitive issue in Hungarian-Ukrainian relations. As the adviser notes, Ukrainian officials acknowledge ongoing dialogue on this matter, with steps being taken to ease tensions. However, the process is still in progress, and concrete outcomes remain to be finalised.
Talks between Zelensky and Orbán
Mykhailo Podolyak highlights that direct talks between President Zelensky and PM Orbán, initiated during the European Political Community summit in Budapest, mark a significant step forward. These discussions encompass economic, political, and cultural issues, signalling renewed bilateral engagement. Hungary’s potential involvement in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction aligns with its interest in EU-wide economic growth, underlining a shared pragmatic vision. Supporting Ukraine, including military aid, is seen as a mutual benefit, fostering stability, market expansion, and a future free of new European conflicts.
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Hungarian foreign minister outraged in Geneva due to the violated rights of the Hungarians living in Ukraine
Acting together against the violation of the rights of ethnic minorities in any country is an important obligation for the international community, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said in Geneva on Friday.
According to a statement from the foreign ministry, Szijjártó spoke at the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues, and said “the centre of the heart of Hungary’s foreign policy is to make sure that the rights of Hungarian communities that live outside our borders are respected.”
He said one of the keys for preserving their national identity was access to “our very unique” mother tongue, adding that that access was not fully provided for ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine’s Transcarpathia province.
“The members of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia have to suffer from the fact that their rights … are seriously violated” in terms of using their mother tongue in education, media, culture, and public administration, the minister said.
“There are even legislative attempts to ban using the mother tongue out of the classes,” he said, adding that under international law those violations could not be explained.
“We consider it an obligation of the international community to stand up when it comes to violation of rights of national communities regardless in which country it takes place,” the minister said, adding that such violations must not be considered a bilateral issue.
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Massive search underway for missing 16-year-old Ukrainian girl – Check out her photo
A 16-year-old Ukrainian girl has disappeared in Budapest. Aljona Mihajljo left her home in District II on 23 November 2024 and is now in an unknown location.
The Budapest Police Headquarters District II Police Department is conducting a procedure under the wanted number 01020-157/1669/2024 in the case of Aljona Mihajljo, who is in an unknown location. The 16-year-old girl left her home in District II on 23 November 2024 and has since then been at an unknown location, police.hu reports.
This is what she was wearing when she disappeared
Aljona Mihajljo is 168 centimetres tall, of slim build, with light brown hair down to her shoulders. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing blue jeans, black high-heeled sneakers, a white long-sleeved T-shirt, a black short, split leather, fleece jacket and a black leather handbag. The girl, a Ukrainian national, speaks Hungarian well.
Police are asking anyone with information on the girl’s whereabouts to come forward. The girl, a Ukrainian citizen, speaks Hungarian well.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing girl is asked to call the 24-hour hotline 06-80-555-111 or the emergency number 112.
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POLITICO: The price MOL would accept to abandon Russian oil in Hungary
MOL faces a pivotal crossroads as Hungary’s oil company navigates EU sanctions, costly refinery upgrades, and a race against time to end reliance on Russian crude—if Brussels agrees to help foot the bill.
Is MOL ready to give up on Russian oil?
As Politico writes, Hungary is willing to end its reliance on Russian oil by late 2026, provided the European Union contributes financial support, according to MOL Group, the country’s leading oil and gas company. György Bacsa, MOL‘s executive vice president for strategic operations, highlighted the USD 500 million (EUR 474 million) cost of adapting its refineries, including Hungary’s sole facility processing Russian crude, to handle alternative supplies.
While the EU has set an informal 2027 deadline for phasing out Russian oil, the Hungarian oil company is seeking “a couple of hundred million” in EU funding to accelerate the transition. The Hungarian oil company also operates refineries in Slovakia that process Russian crude, underscoring the broader regional impact of diversification efforts.
Lack of EU financial support
Hungary’s reliance on Russian oil persists, with MOL continuing imports under a long-term contract with Russia’s Lukoil, set to expire in mid-2024. György Bacsa, the company’s executive vice president, emphasised that Hungary’s refining sector currently receives no EU financial support for transitioning away from Russian crude, despite the EU’s focus on energy security. While Hungary remains one of the few EU countries exempt from the 2022 ban on seaborne Russian oil imports, its dependence has increased, even as other Central European nations reduce theirs.
Bacsa expressed concern over potential EU sanctions tightening without accounting for Hungary and Slovakia’s reliance on Russian oil. He warned that new policies, like the roadmap of incoming EU energy chief Dan Jørgensen, must address regional disparities, as Western Europe’s energy transition pace does not reflect Hungary’s challenges. Meanwhile, the Hungarian oil company continues sourcing discounted Russian crude and negotiating future supply deals if legally permissible.
Trouble with navigating sanctions
The Hungarian oil giant, partially owned by the government, has faced challenges navigating EU sanctions and geopolitical tensions. While windfall taxes imposed by Budapest on MOL generate significant revenue for the state, the firm’s reliance on Russian oil remains under scrutiny. In July, the Hungarian oil company resolved a crisis when Ukraine sanctioned Lukoil by agreeing to reclassify Russian oil as Hungarian once it crossed into Ukraine, securing supply continuity. However, this workaround may face opposition from the EU, as briefing documents for incoming energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen suggest MOL’s imports through Ukraine could still be classified as Russian oil, potentially complicating Hungary’s energy strategy.
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Russia’s vision for Ukraine in 2045 might include Hungary – What’s the endgame for Moscow?
The Russian Ministry of Defence has outlined an ambitious strategy extending to 2045, which not only addresses the ongoing conflict in Ukraine but also seeks to fundamentally alter the global balance of power.
According to Portfolio, Moscow intends to engage US leadership in initiating discussions to reconfigure global politics. A central component of this strategy is the dismantling of Ukraine as a sovereign state—a move that could upend the post-Second World War international order. On the platform X, a map has already been published illustrating how Russia envisions dividing Ukraine, effectively splitting the country into three parts.
Proposed partition of Ukraine
According to Portfolio, the plan envisions a division of Ukraine into three distinct parts:
Eastern Regions Annexed to Russia:
The regions of Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk—already partially occupied by Russia—would be permanently annexed. Moscow has held so-called “referendums” in these areas, though their legitimacy is widely disputed.
A Pro-Russian Puppet State in Central Ukraine:
Central Ukraine, including Kyiv, would fall under the control of a pro-Russian government. This region would encompass significant cities such as Odessa, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, though its political and economic autonomy would remain tightly constrained by Moscow.
Western Ukraine Divided Among Neighbours:
The western regions—spanning eight provinces—would be distributed among Poland, Hungary, and Romania. Such a proposal not only violates Ukraine’s sovereignty but also risks destabilising Central Europe, with far-reaching geopolitical consequences.
The scenarios also discuss the potential global order under various outcomes. In the event of a Russian victory, Moscow envisions a world divided into spheres of influence shared among major powers. A less structured scenario foresees regional powers rising as global structures weaken, resulting in increased instability. One scenario assumes Russian defeat, consolidating the dominance of the United States and its allies. Another outcome predicts Russia’s defeat, with China emerging as the dominant global power, both economically and politically.
Redefining the World Order
At the heart of these plans lies Moscow’s ambition to supplant the US-led post-Second World War global order, which it criticises as favouring Western monopolies on political and economic power. To this end, Russia has reportedly convened several meetings in 2022 and 2023, exploring ways to dismantle the US-dominated global financial system.
This vision threatens not only Ukraine’s sovereignty but also risks destabilising Hungary and other Central European nations. The redrawing of borders could trigger significant political and social upheaval, with implications far beyond the immediate region.
Moscow’s plans reveal that the conflict in Ukraine extends well beyond local or regional disputes—it is part of a larger ambition to redefine the global order. The proposed dismemberment of Ukraine and the shift in global power structures pose profound challenges for the international community, raising questions that will shape geopolitics for decades to come.
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Ex-US Ambassador: Trump could broker respect between Putin and Zelensky, praises Orbán’s efforts for peace
US President-elect Donald Trump knows Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky well and if he reaches out to them, the Russian and the Ukrainian presidents will both show respect towards the United States, the former US ambassador to Hungary said in an interview with public television broadcast on Wednesday evening.
Referring to Trump’s pledge towards peace in Ukraine, David Cornstein said Zelensky was fully aware that “the entire ammunition is coming from the United States” which was why he said it would be worth listening to Trump’s advice.
Ending the war is also in the interest of central Europe, and a priority issue for Trump, Cornstein said. No country has the right to invade another independent state, said the former ambassador, adding that “it is unacceptable”.
He noted that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had made efforts right from the beginning to have the warring sides sit down for talks, adding that the whole world should have followed suit.
Speaking about the close ties between Orbán and Trump, Cornstein said both of them “are very strong leaders governing along the same principles”. Also, they fully agree on cardinal issues such as migration, the importance of family and the economy, as well as the state’s role in those ares, he added.
The former ambassador said that under the Biden administration there had not been any dialogue between the US ambassador and the Hungarian government. “But, if invited, Trump would most certainly pay a visit to Hungary,” he said.
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Hungarian Defence Minister: Diplomacy ‘only solution’ to end war
Diplomacy is the only solution to end the war in Ukraine, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky said on Tuesday after a meeting of European Union defence ministers in Brussels.
Defence Minister talks about the war in Ukraine
Szalay-Bobrovniczky said Hungary was still being attacked for its “pro-peace” stance calling for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks. He also called for a strategic debate “as the approach employed so far is not working. Despite weapon deliveries and other military support, the front is moving increasingly swiftly to the west rather than withdrawing towards the east,” he said.
The result of the US presidential election may bring “definitive change to policy” and a pro-peace approach, he said.
Szalay-Bobrovniczky said the war was threatening with escalation “any day”.
“As long as there is armed conflict, events can get out of control.”
Measures such as moving the EU training of Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine, and member states allowing the country to use weapons delivered by them on Russian territory could also threaten with escalation, he said.
Regarding a recent cyber-attack on Hungary’s National Defence Purchase Agency (VBU), the minister said an international team of hackers had stolen data from the company for financial gain. The attack was not perpetrated by a foreign secret service, he said. VBU is a company conducting purchases, and its servers “are not, were not and never will be” connected to the system of the Hungarian Armed Forces or the Defence Ministry, he said.
“The stolen data may violate business confidentiality but does not threaten national security,” he said.
“After the incident, we have filed a police report, strengthened cyber-protection and information-security procedures and are closely monitoring the case,” Szalay-Bobrovniczky said.
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Hungarian government presses for effective steps against imports of fake honey in Brussels
Agriculture Minister István Nagy called for effective measures to counter imports of fake honey after a meeting of his European Union peers in Brussels on Monday.
Effective measures against fake honey
At a press conference after the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting, Nagy said honey needed to be designated natural or artificial, while local beekeepers, at a competitive disadvantage, required more support. He added that Bulgaria and Romania had asked for protective measures to counter an increase in imports of Ukrainian honey that were depressing the prices of locally-made products.
Nagy said positions on fishing opportunities for 2025 discussed at the meeting were still “far apart” and augured “tough negotiations” ahead.
Nagy said that Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval had participated at the meeting and reported that 88pc of Ukrainian grain exports were now being shipped by sea, but highlighted the risks posed by Russian missile attacks on Odessa.
Nagy noted that the so-called Autonomous Trade Measures, involving the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian exports to the EU, were set to expire in June 2025 and pointed to the importance of future agreements on trade of farm products.
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Hungarian Agriculture Minister: EU farm ministers to discuss internal market, fishing quotas
European Union agriculture ministers will discuss the situation on the internal market and 2025 fishing quotas at a meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Brussels on Monday, Agriculture Minister István Nagy said.
Hungarian Agriculture Minister talks about “emergency brake”
Nagy, representing the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the EU, said the ministers would exchange views on the 2025 fishing quotas in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas.
He added that Ukrainian Minister for Agrarian Policy and Food Vitalii Koval would participate at a discussion of the situation on the EU’s internal market in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Nagy noted that an “emergency brake” for the import of some products from Ukraine, mindful of EU sensitivities, had entered force, and the ministers needed to debate the principles and ways of dealing with imports of farm products from the country. He added that the import of Ukrainian honey was an important issue for Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania.
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EPC summit in Budapest: PM Orbán talks about endangered Europe, President Zelensky gives chilling warning – PHOTOS
Europe’s peace, stability and prosperity are in danger, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at the plenary session of European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest on Thursday.
Europe’s peace, stability, prosperity under threat
Europe’s peace, stability and prosperity are in danger, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at the plenary session of European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest on Thursday. “The situation Europe is in is difficult, complex and dangerous,” Orbán said. He noted that Russia’s war against Ukraine is in its third year and there was a threat of escalation in the conflict in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, north Africa is being destabilised by conflicts, and illegal migration was an “unending challenge” for Europe, he added. Orbán said that after the Cold War, the prospect of a re-emergence of geopolitical blocs was looming over the global economy, which called into question the foundations of the European model.
‘We must examine ways to return to peace in Europe’, says Orbán
The prime minister told a key summit of European leaders in Budapest on Thursday that “we must examine ways to return to peace in Europe.” In his opening address of the European Political Community (EPC) summit, Orbán underlined that the security challenges faced by Europe would be reviewed at the plenary session.
The questions to be discussed include “how to return to peace in Europe, how can Europe take greater responsibility for its own security and peace in the future, how can the continent be more successful in enforcing its own interests and how can the continent remain a decisive player at talks and in developments that will decide its future.”
These issues have become particularly relevant with the US presidential election just having taken place, he said, adding that “the future of our transatlantic relations is an indispensable component of the European security architecture.” The answers given now could decide Europe’s future for decades, Orbán said, adding that “we believe that together we can be stronger than on our own.”
Orbán calls for better cooperation on migration with countries of origin, transit
“Better practical cooperation is needed with the countries of origin and the transit countries in order to eliminate illegal migration and human smuggling networks,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told a plenary session of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest on Thursday.
The challenges related to migration, economic security and connectivity will be discussed in working groups after the plenary session, the prime minister said. Migration is included in the EPC summit’s agenda as a priority topic for the second time, he added. In order to achieve the development goals, the countries of origin and transit must be better supported, Orbán said.
“We have to decide whether we are ready to set up centres in safe third countries to process asylum applications and arrange for returns,” he said, adding that Thursday’s debate might be a step forward towards achieving tangible results. “I sense a new momentum in Europe in this regard,” the prime minister said.
A total of 47 heads of state and government and leaders of international organisations have been invited to the summit.
Hungary ‘important, valued NATO member’
Orbán had bilateral talks with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Budapest, the venue of the European Political Community summit, the PM’s press chief said in a statement on Thursday. At the meeting held to review cooperation between Hungary and NATO, it was agreed that Hungary “is an important and valued member” of the alliance, the statement said. Orbán and Rutte agreed to continue pursuing “intensive joint work”, the press chief said.
Hungarian prime minister discusses with former ECB head
Orbán on Thursday had a meeting with Mario Draghi, the one-time Italian premier and former president of the European Central Bank, who has arrived in Budapest at Orbán’s invitation, the PM’s press chief said in a statement.
Zelensky talks about “peace through strength” in Budapest
Here’s his speech:
Hungarian public broadcaster: Zelensky’s speech at Budapest summit was not open to the press
After Prime Minister Viktor Orban officially opened the summit, the event was held behind closed doors and the organisers did not open the Ukrainian president’s speech for broadcast by M1 or any international media provider, it added.
Hungary and Ukraine negotiate cooperation agreement amid tensions over ethnic Hungarian rights
Talks are underway on concluding a comprehensive cooperation agreement between Hungary and Ukraine, which must include the restoration of the rights of Ukraine’s ethnic Hungarian community, a spokesman for the foreign ministry said on Friday, in response to a statement made two days earlier by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We made it clear to the Ukrainian side during the talks that Ukraine’s intention to join NATO cannot be part of this agreement,” Máté Paczolay said.
“We have presented our position on this issue multiple times, and it remains unchanged. Ukraine’s accession to NATO would cause the outbreak of a third world war,” the spokesman added.
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Hungary reaffirms Belarus partnership, advocates peace in Ukraine at Minsk meeting
Further developing Hungary-Beralus economic and energy cooperation in areas not affected by sanctions is an important common goal, the foreign minister said in Minsk on Thursday.
The ministry cited Péter Szijjártó telling a joint press conference with Belarus counterpart Maxim Ryzhenkov that the global security situation was currently in its worst shape since the Second World War, so stabilisation would be important.
“The recent period has proved that wars cannot be resolved on the battleground … this only leads to more deaths and greater destruction,” he added.
“The solution instead must be sought at the negotiation table. This is why we Hungarians call for ceasefire and peace in Ukraine, and the road to peace lies through peace talks,” he said.
He added that Hungary had been living in the shadow of war for a thousand days, directly feeling the negative impacts of the war day by day, despite the fact that Hungary had no responsibility at all for the outbreak of the war.
“We Hungarians want to live in peace. The pro-peace position here in Europe is in a minority considering the political leaders but this should not mislead us, because in the global space, pro-peace countries are in sweeping majority,” he said.
He said he believed “the world is racing to its own destruction, with some trying to tell others who they should speak and meet with”.
“First of all, it is our sovereign right to hold talks with anyone we want to. Secondly, I believe that if we close the channels of communications and cut diplomatic ties, then we would only kill the hope for peace,” he said.
“So, we will continue to work in the future on keeping the channels of diplomacy open and maintaining dialogue,” he added.
Commenting on bilateral relations, he said that further developing Hungary-Belarus economic and energy cooperation in areas not affected by sanctions was an important common goal. “It is our national interest, and we will not give it up,” he added.
He said that given the adverse circumstances, the situation was “not bad”, with Hungary-Belarus trade expanding by 19 percent this year, including a 30 percent growth in Hungarian exports.
He added that agriculture and pharmaceuticals were highlighted areas of cooperation, as demonstrated by nearly 10 million hatching eggs supplied by Hungarian companies to Belarus last year, and 420,000 laying hybrids this year, and two Hungarian pharmaceuticals, including Richter, holding strong positions in the local market.
He said Belarus played an essential role in guaranteeing Hungary’s energy security, with a decisive part, r around 71 percent, of crude oil shipments crossing the country. Accordingly, so far this year Hungary has received 3.9 million tonnes of crude on this route, he added.
“We do not consider the security of energy supplies an ideological issue but a physical one,” he said.
“Belarus, a hundred percent trustworthy transit country, guarantees us the security and reliability of transport,” he said.
The route will continue to play a significant role in crude oil supplies “because there is currently no alternative”, he said. “As we have been saying for a long time, the crude pipeline running through Croatia simply cannot supply as much crude to Hungary and Slovakia as needed,” he added.
Commenting on cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, he said Hungary is building a power station using similar technology as Belarus’s, so the exchange of information could be important for speeding up the investment project.
Referring to soccer team Dinamo Minsk and its involvement in the UEFA Conference League, he said Hungary was ready to offer a venue for the soccer team to play in Hungary as if it were playing at its home ground.
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Transcarpathian Hungarians at risk: Russian strikes threaten secret Ukrainian facility just 12 km from Hungarian border
According to the Russian newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, Germany’s Rheinmetall defence company may have set up a covert facility in Chornotysiv, a village in Transcarpathia just 12 kilometres from Hungary’s border. If true, this location could become a prime target for Russian missile strikes, warned journalist Elena Gamayun, who believes EU proximity won’t deter Russia from potentially targeting the site.
The Rheinmetall CEO, Armin Papperger, had previously hinted at new defence production sites in Ukraine, including a factory manufacturing Lynx infantry vehicles by year’s end, with three more planned, Index reports. Russian analysts quoted by Moskovsky Komsomolets, however, were quick to dismiss Papperger’s claims as mere PR, questioning the factory’s legitimacy. One expert, Alexander Perendzhiev from the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, argued that such statements might be a front for financial gains, suggesting that secret facilities are not typically publicised. He added, “They’ll say they produced something, then claim it was destroyed by Russian attacks when the money’s gone.”
In contrast, Lieutenant Colonel Roman Skurlatov expressed in another Russian outlet that a facility likely does exist but is designed for producing 155mm shells rather than armoured vehicles. Skurlatov speculated that Papperger’s announcements were more about PR than actual military capability, especially as there’s been no confirmed planning for additional sites.
Local residents concerned over hidden operations
The exact location of this facility remains uncertain, yet Skurlatov and others find it unlikely to be situated in eastern Ukraine, suggesting a secure underground facility might be more plausible. Moskovsky Komsomolets recalls that last year, when Rheinmetall’s plans first surfaced, rumours grew about secret construction in Chornotysiv, sparking local concerns. Construction equipment and materials were brought into the village under tight security, with armed checkpoints installed along routes leading to the construction site. A high volume of cement deliveries, along with trucks carrying away soil, seemed to hint at underground activity, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported.
Local residents also noticed an influx of German nationals requiring interpreters, indicating the possible involvement of Rheinmetall personnel. The site’s strategic location, surrounded by mountains and close to EU borders—both Hungary and Romania—was reportedly chosen for its natural and political advantages.
While some suggest that Russia might hesitate to conduct strikes near European borders, Gamayun countered by pointing to recent strikes on Ukraine’s Danube ports near Romania as proof that European proximity won’t prevent Moscow from targeting key infrastructure.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com
Tisza Party abstains in EP vote on Ukraine support
MEPs of the opposition Tisza Party abstained in a European parliamentary vote on a proposal to set up a Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism, and on a new loan to Ukraine, the party told MTI in a statement on Tuesday.
Tisza Party abstains
The party firmly condemns Russian aggression against Ukraine and is convinced that it is the aggressor’s duty to pay for the damage caused and that the Ukrainian people must be given help, the statement said. The delegation abstained because of provisions on the purchase and delivery of weapons, it said. It said that “it wasn’t an easy decision at all,” citing as a reason “a lack of unambiguous indications regarding the use of revenues from frozen Russian assets”.
The party also proposed allocating more funding for the rebuilding of Ukraine, the statement said. Tisza said it had informed in advance the EPP about its decision. At its plenary session in Strasbourg, the EP adopted the decision to set up the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism and Macro-Financial Assistance for the country.
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PHOTO: Civic centre with clinic and post office built in Ukraine with Hungarian support
A civic centre that houses a clinic, municipal government office and a post office has been built in Synyak, in the County of Kyiv, the foreign ministry said on Saturday.
Speaking at the inauguration of the centre, Levente Magyar, the deputy foreign minister, said the investment was completed at a cost of 2 million euros, in a relatively short period of time. The centre could serve as a model for projects in Hungary, too, he added.
Civic centre built in Ukraine with Hungarian support
With its assistance for Ukraine, Magyar said Hungary had undertaken the biggest humanitarian aid campaign in its history, welcoming refugees and supporting the reconstruction of institutions that had been damaged or destroyed in the war.
László Lehel, who heads Hungarian Interchurch Aid, said a pre-fabricated kindergarten and a first-aid station had been built with Hungarian assistance in the region. The reconstruction of a school damaged in the war is under way and is set to open in September 2025, he added.
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Hungary draws red line: firmly opposes sending EU military advisers to Ukraine
Hungary stands firmly against “the extremely dangerous proposal” to send EU military advisers to Ukraine, Péter Szijjártó said on Monday in Luxembourg.
Not to help Ukraine
This is a Hungarian red line, he told a press conference after a meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, adding that pressure to expand the mandate of the EU military training mission in Ukraine was strong.
“When the European Union started training Ukrainian soldiers, we constructively abstained, signalling our disagreement,” he said, arguing the plan was “dangerous” in view of the risk of escalation and deepening the conflict between the EU and Russia. He noted that Hungary had not prevented others doing so, however.
“But now they are calling for the European Union to delegate military advisers to Kyiv as part of this operation. Well, this goes beyond [our] red lines,” he said.
related article: Hungarian Foreign Minister says Russia’s 2021 security proposals to end Hungary’s NATO membership acceptable? Ria Novosti interview and denial – VIDEO
Now is the time for a pro-peace outlook to replace pro-war policy
The time has come to pursue a pro-peace policy instead of a pro-war approach, now that there is a general recognition in Brussels that Ukraine is beset by problems such as the risk of further escalation, the approaching winter and sanctions evasions, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, told a press conference after a meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Monday.
Szijjártó said much of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure had been destroyed as winter approached, more and more European companies were evading sanctions with the help of third countries, and fighting on the frontline was intensifying.
He said the pro-war approach had been tried for “a thousand days” and had failed, and now the pro-peace approach should be given a chance to succeed.
Brussels, meanwhile, wanted additional weapons shipments and new punitive measures. It even advocated using Western weapons against targets in Russia, he added.
Szijjártó decried those who saw champions of peace as a threat.
“Some argue that starting peace negotiations now would not be good when Ukraine is not doing well. Well, if Ukraine isn’t doing well, doesn’t this prove what we [advocate]?”
Meanwhile, asked about recent remarks made by Donald Trump concerning risk of escalation in Ukraine, he said the former president had been “absolutely right” that a confrontation between NATO and Russia was “growing every hour and minute of the day”.
A third world war, he added, could be prevented if the war in Ukraine was brought to an end. “That’s why we’re waiting until the American presidential election in a few weeks, because we think that the victory” of Trump would result in “change in international political life that will bring with it a greater hope for peace than ever before,” he said.
The minister added that in the absence of a new Trump administration, “we would have to prepare for a very difficult period in Europe and in central Europe. ”
Meanwhile, Szijjártó said the Friends of Peace international group established within the United Nations had drawn heavy criticism at the meeting, but Hungary continued to strongly back the initiative.
“I had expected there would be ad-hominem criticism,” he said, noting that Hungary was not the only EU member state to have attended the inaugural meeting in New York as France had also participated. “The French needed courage for this, and it’s apparent that more people couldn’t muster it up”.
Afterwards, criticism of Friends of Peace broadened and some even favoured attacking the group. However, he said Hungary still strongly supported its establishment at the UN and was ready to participate in its joint work.
He said the group’s statement backing territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the UN Charter “should be respected” and that it righted the criticisms that “our European friends have previously cataloged.”
Szijjártó also said pressure had again mounted to pay six billion euros from the European Peace Framework to EU member states supplying weapons to Ukraine, and Hungary strongly opposed the move.
But he welcomed a proposal by the EU’s foreign policy chief to make this voluntary, saying that Hungary has long argued that no one should be forced into an initiative they do not wish to participate in.
The minister said he had signalled Hungary’s support for the transition to voluntary funds. He added that Hungary could no longer be blamed for any lack of payments from the European Peace Framework.
As we wrote today, the Hungarian foreign minister condemned Kamala Harris for labeling Orbán an autocratic dictator. Details are HERE.
Hungarian Foreign Minister says Russia’s 2021 security proposals to end Hungary’s NATO membership acceptable? Ria Novosti interview and denial – VIDEO
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó’s comments to the Russian state media have caused a significant stir. According to RIA Novosti, a Russian state news agency with close ties to the Hungarian government, Szijjártó suggested that Russia’s 2021 security proposals should have been negotiated by NATO, implying that Hungary’s NATO membership could have been reconsidered.
Máté Paczolay, spokesperson for the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded in an interview with Telex, following the report by RIA Novosti.
Paczolay firmly rejected this interpretation, clarifying the foreign minister’s remarks. His response came after Telex enquired about the RIA Novosti article, which quoted Szijjártó as stating that NATO should have engaged with Russia’s proposed security guarantees before the conflict escalated. Although Paczolay did not explicitly mention RIA Novosti, it was clear he was referring to the Russian outlet.
The controversy stems from an interview Szijjártó gave to the Russian news agency. In the interview, he stated that war might have been avoided if NATO had engaged with Russia’s draft 2021 agreement on security guarantees before the situation deteriorated. He commented:
“I remember those days well. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Nearly three years have passed since then, and perhaps it’s no longer relevant, but I do wish those discussions had taken place. If they had, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation now.”
At that time, Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed a deal to the United States, which included NATO rolling back its infrastructure to pre-1997 levels and ensuring Ukraine would never join the alliance. In return, Putin claimed he would refrain from invading Ukraine. If accepted, this proposal would have meant that Hungary, which joined NATO in 1999, would not have hosted NATO forces or weapons.
In his interview, Szijjártó expressed regret that NATO did not engage with Putin’s demands, which many viewed as unreasonable and unrealistic. Had they been accepted, it would have left Hungary more vulnerable.
However, Paczolay clarified that Szijjártó’s remarks were not specifically about Russia’s 2021 security guarantees. Instead, he was referring to the pre-war period, suggesting that “real dialogue and genuine negotiations between the parties could have created an opportunity to avoid war.” Paczolay also stressed that Russia’s 2021 proposals are irrelevant in the current context.
Márton Tompos, an opposition politician from the Momentum party, strongly criticised the foreign minister’s remarks, writing:
The Hungarian foreign minister is a Russian agent. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry serves Russian interests. Hungarian NATO membership is in danger. There is nowhere to retreat. If you vote for Fidesz, you vote for Putin. Péter Szijjártó, get out of public life!
This incident marks the second time in recent weeks that the Hungarian government has faced backlash over its perceived closeness to Russia. Viktor Orbán’s strategist, Balázs Orbán, recently caused controversy by suggesting that President Zelensky should not have defended Ukraine so fiercely during the Russian invasion, claiming that the Hungarian government would not have acted similarly.
As we wrote earlier today, the Hungarian Foreign Minister sent a strong message to America via the Russian state press, condemning Kamala Harris for calling Orbán an autocratic dictator. Read details HERE.
Orbán cabinet will continue to block EUR 45 billion loan scheme for Ukraine until the US elections
A lot depends on who will win the election in the United States this November. PM Viktor Orbán and his government attached Hungary’s fate to Trump’s victory, which is strange in our history. If Trump wins, Orbán will triumph not only in Hungary but also in Europe. And it seems the Orbán cabinet will practically boycott a huge EU loan for Ukraine until the election results arrive.
Hungary regularly votes against EU decisions
According to Euronews, Hungary confirmed that it would not decide about the basis of a EUR 45 billion loan for Ukraine until the 5 November presidential elections in the United States. The loan would be covered by the unexpected profit of the Russian central bank’s frozen assets, so the loan’s basis is not the European taxpayers’ money. That basis would be completed with US, Japanese, and Canadian financial sources to reach EUR 45 billion.
The United States is concerned about the ambitious plan’s long-term sustainability. That is because all EU member states must renew the anti-Russia sanctions every six months. If a member state vetoes or liberates that financial background, the entire project freezes.
The weakest link is Hungary in that regard. The Orbán cabinet regularly uses its veto right in the European Council. For example, they exempted Patriarch Kirill, one of the strongest religious supporters of Putin’s war in Ukraine, from sanctions. Euronews writes that Hungary uses its veto to favour the Orbán cabinet’s and even Putin’s interests.
Hungary gave the green light for the loan scheme this week
To dispel the doubts of Washington, Brussels proposed to increase the anti-Putin sanctions’ renewal time from 6 months to 36 months, so the program’s stability could be granted.
All EU member states were in a rush to accept the loan scheme as soon as possible. The efforts were successful. As we wrote in THIS article, on Wednesday, the Council of Europe agreed on the financial aid package for Ukraine. Since Hungary is the President of the EU, currently, the agreement was reached under Hungary’s leadership.
No decision about the prolongation of the sanctions until 5 November
However, the big question was not the acceptance of Ukraine’s theoretic help, but to solidify the financial leg of it. And in that regard, no steps have been taken forward yet.
Euronews said the Orbán cabinet would decide about the prolongation of the sanctions only after the American presidential election. The acceptance of the loan scheme needed only a qualified majority in the Council of Europe. However, the loan’s fundament is the frozen assets of the Russian central bank. Those financial assets can only remain frozen if Hungary votes for them because the decision needs unanimity.
The Hungarian government still believes that decision can wait until 5 November, Mihály Varga, Hungary’s finance minister, made it clear this week in Luxembourg. Without deciding on the sanctions, the money support programme for Ukraine cannot start.
Varga believes the two presidential candidates represent two opposing scenarios concerning the war in Ukraine. Trump would seek peace while Kamala Harris would continue to support Ukraine’s war efforts.
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