Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky have reported a Russian drone and missile attack on Transcarpathia, Ukraine’s westernmost region, home to at least 100,000 Hungarians. These Hungarians did not migrate to the area; they have lived there for generations as part of an indigenous community.
Hungarian ministers provide updates on the Russian attack
According to Telex, Russia launched its deadliest missile attack on Ukraine today, which also affected Transcarpathia. Until now, this Ukrainian region had largely been spared from the military consequences of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.
Photo: Anadolu News Agency
Photo: Anadolu News Agency
Foreign Minister Szijjártó wrotein a Facebook post that Russian missiles struck just a few kilometres from the Hungarian-Ukrainian border. He reported no casualties or injuries but urged international decision-makers to intensify efforts towards achieving peace, as each passing day brings more devastation and risks global escalation.
Defence Minister Szalay-Bobrovniczky wrotethat the situation was being closely monitored, with radar surveillance heightened. He noted that Hungary’s and NATO’s aerial emergency units have been placed on standby. He also stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire to ensure the safety of Hungarians in the region.
Two Russian missiles shot down
According to Telex, Ukrainian defence forces intercepted two Russian missiles over Pósaháza (Pavsino) and Feketepatak (Csornyij Potik). The debris landed in nearby woods. Notably, Feketepatak is only 20 kilometres from the Hungarian-Ukrainian border, and almost 95% of its population is Hungarian.
Telex has sought further details from the Hungarian Defence Ministry and Foreign Ministry, including inquiries about Hungary’s preparedness for potential attacks on Transcarpathia and its Hungarian community. As of yet, no responses have been received.
Read also:
Transcarpathian Hungarians at risk: Russian strikes threaten secret Ukrainian facility just 12 km from Hungarian border – read more HERE
Transcarpathia annexed to Hungary? Map revealedby Russian Security Chairman
Featured image: illustration, source: Anadolu News Agency
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary’s economic troubles were, “without exception”, the result of the war in Ukraine and its consequences in a weekly interview with public radio on Friday.
USA pro-peace
Orbán said the government had submitted a “peacetime” budget bill to lawmakers and augured a “fantastic”, “unprecedented” 2025.
As well as acknowledging the need for peace from the humane and Christian perspective, Orbánpointed to the impact of the war on Hungary’s economy and Hungarians’ incomes and quality of life. “The right thing to do is to end the war as soon as possible,” he said.
According to the prime minister, the European Union’s sanctions, “an ill-advised response to the war”, have led to high energy prices and inflation, which resulted in “adopting a defensive position” in the economy rather than an attitude of “how could we feel better”. Unless it is reversed and “confidence returns to the economy” and “unless businessmen have faith in what they do there will be no economic growth … for the country to become successful again the war must be ended,” he said.
He noted that Hungarian diplomacy had advocated peace, but said a “major player” with the power to achieve that peace was necessary, explaining the importance of the result of the United States elections.
Putin and Orbán in July in Moscow. Photo: FB/Orbán
He said the 2025 budget would pave the way for developments in Hungary for which “the expression ‘fantastic’ is not unwarranted”. He said the draft outlined “the budget for a new economic policy to close an era and open up perspectives, hopes, opportunities,” adding that the budget would “focus on the smallest players, primarily families.” The family tax benefit would be doubled, he said. Referring to talks with employers and trade unions, the government is seeking to raise wages as “the sole remedy the government could offer against increasing prices … opportunities for the people to make more money,” he said, noting the government’s long-term goal of raising the average wage to a monthly one million forints.
Economic measures
Among the government’s major action plans Orbán mentioned housing and said several measures were aimed at ensuring affordable first homes and housing, introducing “promising novel ideas”.
On air. Photo: FB/Orbán
Employees under 35 would be eligible to a housing subsidy from their employer up to 150,000 forints a month to help with rent or mortgage payments, the prime minister said. He said the government had long considered abandoning the idea of developing the state-owned housing sector, which could “restore the culture of communist times”. Instead, the government could provide incentives to the private sector to offer housing subsidies to its young employees, he said. “It will make them attractive; companies offering such benefits will gain a competitive edge in the race for talented young employees,” he said.
The government’s Demjan Sandor programme will help small companies to “gain strength and rise to a higher level” through capital injections, Orbán said. The new workers’ loans, on the other hand, will offer “tangible help” to young employees, he added.
Difficult and exciting two months to come
Referring to the political climate after the US election Orbán said it was now “calm without winds; so far it has been windy and the ship was forging ahead, the campaign itself was a hurricane and drove the peace camp’s ship ahead at great speed. There was fight between the peace and war camps on a daily basis,” he added.
“A pro-peace presidential candidate has won and now we await peace,” he said, adding that “the question is what happens in America before Donald Trump assumes his office on January 20, whether American leaders acknowledge that the candidate of the peace camp has won.” He said further steps towards an escalation of the war should not be made but “the pro-peace president should be allowed to implement his programme as easily as possible”. He suggested it would be “risky” for the president-elect to take measures under US law, and said “since they constantly want to send Trump to prison he will think five times what he can and cannot do” before he takes his post. “We are ahead of a difficult and exciting two months,” Orbán added.
Orbán said a pro-peace turnaround must be fostered in the European Union, “to prevent the idea that we can continue this war without the US from emerging.” That concept “has proponents, they must be cornered and forced into meaningful dialogue about how they pictured doing that without ruining our own economy. Europe definitely has not enough money to finance this war without the Americans,” he said.
More than 300 state-subsidised investments launching next year
“Hungary must go on with its fight for peace, in Brussels this time, after an American victory triggering great expectations,” Orbán said. Without certain reforms to European Union policy, “the European Union may die within two or three years” as the French president has predicted, Orbán said. Orbán said the two main tasks were cutting energy prices, “which includes a review of sanctions,” and an “anti-bureaucracy reform”, achieved within the next six months.
Answering a question, Orbán said he saw a “30 percent chance for success, which is why it is very important not to wait for Brussels but to revolt where they want to strong-arm us into measures that are bad for Hungarian families.” Hungary’s draft budget was one such “open revolt”, Orbán said, as it contained the utility price caps and the government’s new housing and SME support schemes. Hungary will see more than 300 state-subsidised investments launching next year, he added.
“We are launching huge railway investments, the motorway constructions and revamps are under way, we are building a university and might finally get to the Heim Pál Children’s Hospital. Big, serious things are starting here, the diametrical opposits of what Brussels is doing,” Orbán said. Regarding the world economy, Orbán said the US and the EU had been neck-and-neck some 15 years ago, but since then, Europe’s economy has grown by 15 percent while the us’s jumped by 65 percent.
While richer member states “had awful years”, Hungary had remained more on the path of development, Orbán said. Without a utility price cap scheme of their own, soaring energy prices in other member states had devoured family incomes, he insisted. Europe can’t compete with the US “as long as they are paying a fourth of European electricity prices. We can’t win this way,” Orbán said. “Energy prices won’t fall with a sanctions policy like this.” Europe will also have to undergo “an anti-bureaucratic revolution”, Orbán said. “The second greatest problem in the EU is a hoard of idiotic, unviable rules suffocating the economy.”
Rude awakening for EU leaders
Orbán said the Draghi report on competitiveness presented at a European Union summit in Budapest a week ago had been a “rude awakening” for EU leaders and an incitement to take policy action.
Orbán said the report on the European economy, prepared by Mario Draghi, the well-respected former head of the European Central Bank, at Brussels’ request, showed that Europe was on a “suicide” path. EU leaders’ acknowledgement of the seriousness of the matter and the need to take steps produced the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal which was “effortlessly approved by all member states” at the summit, he added.
Regarding the National Consultation survey, Orbán said that besides “ammunition for the fights in Brussels,” the survey was also a way to involve the community in dialogue on “the great questions of the country’s future”.
The key to ensuring Hungary’s sovereignty is ending Russian energy dependence, the European parliamentary group of the opposition Tisza Party said in a statement on Thursday.
The EP voted on Thursday to strengthen implementation of sanctions against Russia, calling for a full ban on Russian energy imports, including products using Russian oil refined in third countries, the statement said.
Owing to the ill-considered policies of the Orban government, however, a full and immediate ban on Russian oil and gas imports would endanger Hungary’s energy supplies, so Tisza MEPs abstained from voting on certain points, it added.
The statement referred to “suspicious transactions revealed since the 2022 Russian invasion”.
“Russian strategic corruption is blooming in Hungary. The old political elite has been selling the country to Putin instead of pursuing national interests and energy independence,” it added.
The statement said that Hungarian companies paid some of the highest prices for gas and electricity in the European Union because the government had neglected to invest in the sector and had accepted the country’s dependence on Russian energy, it said.
Meanwhile, monies from the European recovery fund, including RepowerEU support which would help grow independence from Russian energy, had been withheld from Hungary due to high-level corruption, the statement added. Hungarians were losing 4 billion euros in preferential loans and 700 million euros of non-refundable support, it added.
If the Tisza Party entered government, it would bring EU monies to Hungary and invest in the diversification of Hungary’s energy supplies instead of wasteful luxury investments, the statement said. Until then, “because of the government’s criminal negligence”, we are obliged to explain to European partners and Hungarian voters that Russian energy dependence must be abandoned before we can safely give up Russian energy imports, the statement added.
UPDATE: Fidesz-KDNP reaction
The Fidesz-KDNP group in the EP said in a statement that Tisza Party politicians had “once again” failed to protect Hungarian interests and the party endangered Hungary’s energy security.
As a result of ill-fated sanctions by Brussels, the price of natural gas increased several fold, and, contrary to “Brussels’ promise”, Russia’s economy did not buckle, the statement said. This demonstrated the failure of Brussels’ war strategy, it added. “It is unacceptable that, despite the facts, the EP calls on EU member states in various resolutions to ban imports of Russian crude oil, natural gas and nuclear products,” the group said.
The proposals severely endangered the energy security of several member states, including Hungary, and would cause economic damage to Hungarian households and businesses, it said. Tisza Party MEPs “know this well” and, despite this, they did not stand up against the proposals that threaten Hungary’s energy security, it added.
Donald Trump’s incoming presidency is a beacon of hope for Europe and Hungary alike, Zsolt Semjén, the deputy prime minister, said in an interview to public media portal hirado.hu.
Trump to bring hope?
Trump’s win “restores faith in a normal America”, and his presidency would bring back “common sense and normal human values”, he said in the interview published on Tuesday.
The Democratic Party, he added, “is destroying America” with their values and its administration wanted to force them on the world “under the name of exporting democracy”.
Semjén said it could be expected that the US and Russia would resolve the war in Ukraine, which he said was in the interest of the world and Europe in particular. Europe itself, he added, had borne the brunt of sanctions against Russia, so Trump’s presidency was a beacon of hope for Europe and Hungary.
Semjén, who leads the junior governing Christian Democrats, said his party did not support Ukraine’s bid to join NATO as this could spark a third world war. Also, if Ukraine was a NATO member, Article 5 may no longer apply in respect of all its member states, he added. First a ceasefire was necessary as a prelude to peace negotiations, he said, adding that Americans would no longer finance the war and Europeans would not have the money to spend on it either.
The deputy PM said that as long as he was in power he would “do everything to ensure that no Hungarian person dies” in the war.
Meanwhile, he said “only stupid people” failed to accept that migration “leads to disaster”. Once irregular migrants have entered the country, “it’s extremely hard to get them out, so they shouldn’t be allowed in at all”.
Also, Semjén decried “trans issues in the West”, saying gender had been distorted to the extent that was totally at odds with human nature, “to the point of absurdity”.
Regarding opposition claims that Hungary was diplomatically isolated, he said the centre of world diplomacy was in Budapest and defined in relation to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, “from Austria and Slovakia, all the way to the United States”, so the claim was “absurd”.
Photo: FB/Orbán
Semjén rejected “turning economic issues into ideological issues” and said economic cooperation was far preferable to the emergence of a Cold War.
Meanwhile, turning to party politics, he said the Christian Democrats were under attack “not because we are guilty of serious crimes but because we uphold Christian values, and this annoys the anti-church camp.”
He said Orbán was reviled by the left wing as he was “a symbol” who represented Christianity and the nation, adding that Democratic Coalition (DK) leader Ferenc Gyurcsány “hates him” as DK was “anti-Christian and Hungaro-phobic”.
Semjén said the opposition paid lip service to supporting Hungarians across the border, so Hungarians beyond the border rejected them. Hungarians communities abroad should not be the subject of everyday party politics, he said.
In October, “the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned 275 individuals and entities involved in supplying Russia with advanced technology and equipment that it desperately needs to support its war machine.” One of them is the Hungarian Bence Horváth. Allegedly, he conspired with others to illegally export U.S.-origin radio communications technology to Russian government end-users without a license.
Hungarian nationals, companies helping Russia
We wrote HEREthat Mr Horváth (46) was arrested in August at San Francisco International Airport entering the U.S.A. He is a resident of Spain and is believed to have begun negotiations in January 2023 with a small U.S. radio distribution company. Their objective was to purchase and export U.S.-made military-grade radios and related accessories to Russia.
In the months that followed, Horváth successfully acquired 200 military-grade radios, which he intended to ship to Russia via a Latvian transport service. However, the attempt was thwarted when U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the shipment, preventing the radios from reaching Russian users.
Horváth is said to have personally arranged the purchase and smuggling of U.S.-origin radio communications technology to Russian government end-users, utilising a network of subsidiaries in Spain, Serbia, Hungary, and Latvia.
Putin and Orbán in July in Moscow. Photo: FB/Orbán
According to a new sanctions list of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Horváth allegedly helped in procurement activities involving Russia-based ZAO Budaphone Ltd. (Budaphone). Budaphone is a Russian Ministry of Defense contractor and shares an address with Russia-based Promsvyazradio. The latter company manufactures printed circuits and radio transmitting equipment. The firm also imported high-priority and dual-use technology into Russia. Moreover, a Serbian company, Ventrade DOO, has also exported military-grade radios to Promsvyazradio.
“Budaphone and Promsvyazradio are being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy. Ventrade DOO is being designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Promsvyazradio”, the U.S. Department of the Treasury wrote.
Military radio in use. Illustration. Photo: depositphotos.com
Serbian, and Russian companies in the business, all in Hungarian ownership
According to 444.hu, the radios smuggled to Russia despite the sanctions were used by the Russian police, military, and the National Guard of Russia. The key figure of the issue is not Bence Horváth, 444.hu wrote, but his mother, Margarita Horváth. Mrs Horváth was the head of the HEPA office in Moscow. The office opened in 2019, and HEPA stands for “Hungarian Export Promotion Agency”.
However, 444.hu wrote there was no news of whether the Hungarian state did anything about the issue. The news portal reported that Mrs Horváth had not been arrested. It also wrote that she is the owner of the Russia-based Promsvyazradio. Furthermore, the Serbia-based Ventrade DOO is also in Hungarian ownership.
USA committed to stopping Russia’s war machine
The new list of the USA sanctioned 275 individuals and entities involved in supplying Russia with advanced technology and equipment. The countries involved include India, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Switzerland, Thailand, Türkiye, and Hungary.
“The United States and our allies will continue to take decisive action across the globe to stop the flow of critical tools and technologies that Russia needs to wage its illegal and immoral war against Ukraine,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo.
Read also:
Fools of ’56? Hungarian researcher sparks controversy over Heroes of the Revolution – read more HERE
Parliament voted on Monday to empower the government to prolong by 180 days the state of emergency in connection with the war in Ukraine.
The motion passed with 130 votes in favour, while 49 MPs voted against changing the law on rules to be applied in case of war in a neighbouring country as well as in the case of humanitarian disasters.According to the law, an extended state of emergency is needed to handle the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the Ukraine war and tackle the economic consequences.
“He who does not recognise overwhelming force is not a hero, but a fool!” – wrote Bálint Somkuti, a researcher at the Research Institute of the Hungarian Sovereignty Protection Office, on the anniversary of the suppression of the ’56 Revolution.
Bálint Somkuti, a researcher at the much-criticised Research Institute of the Hungarian Sovereignty Protection Office, announced his appointment a month earlier in a separate statement. The research institute is headed by József Horváth, an internal intelligence officer of the former party-state, Division III/III.
Today is the 68th anniversary of the suppression of the 1956 revolution, and Somkuti thought it was the right time to denounce the Hungarian revolutionaries who defended their homeland openly.
In addition, according to Gulyáságyú Media, Somkuti originally wrote that “anyone who does not respect the enemy is not a hero, but a fool”, but later amended this.
This is also interesting because he then writes, “Glory to the heroes!” which, presumably, in his understanding, refers to Soviet soldiers and Hungarians who did not participate in the resistance.
Source: Facebook
Since the regime change in 1989, Hungarian society has generally held revolutionaries in high regard, regardless of political affiliation. Only during the socialist era did communist educational materials cast revolutionaries in a negative light, according to *Helló Magyar*. This attitude, however, appears to be shifting, with an increasing number of public officials and members of Viktor Orbán’s government now viewing past revolutions as unnecessary patriotic exercises. They believe it might have been more pragmatic to surrender rather than defend the homeland at great cost. Most notably, Balázs Orbán, an advisor to the Prime Minister, recently endorsed this perspective, saying the Orbán cabinet would NOT have defended Hungary in case of a Russian invasion.
Previously, government official Tamás Somkuti had made a similarly controversial remark about the 1956 revolution, which drew significant public backlash. He recently stated that it was beneficial the West did not intervene on Hungary’s behalf in 1956, suggesting otherwise, Hungary’s fate might have mirrored that of present-day Ukraine.
The Hungarian government seems to be cultivating a new narrative to erode society’s reverence for Hungarian revolutionaries. Initially, a few officials voice these views, setting the stage for the sentiment to gain wider acceptance over time. Although the exact motivation remains unclear, it is presumably intended to encourage greater public alignment with Russian actions by downplaying the heroes of 1956.
Meanwhile, the Hungarian flag was lowered to half-mast outside Parliament, commemorating those who sacrificed their lives for Hungarian freedom. Photos can be viewed here.
In a recent statement, Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian president, praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s approach to foreign policy, highlighting Orbán’s commitment to an “independent position” that stands apart from the “contradictory and short-sighted” policies of EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell.
According to 444.hu, Peskov emphasised that Moscow values Orbán’s determination to shape Hungary’s economic and diplomatic strategy to suit its own interests, even when it diverges from the EU’s mainstream approach. While expressing respect for Orbán’s autonomy, Peskov clarified that Russia has no intention of meddling in European politics and aims to avoid getting entangled in EU’s internal conflicts.
Source: Facebook / Viktor Orbán
Orbán’s speech and his Georgia visit
On the 23rd of October, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stirred up controversy with comments suggesting a “Brussels conspiracy” aimed at toppling the Hungarian government, sparking both domestic and international backlash. Shortly afterwards, Orbán’s visit to Georgia caught analysts’ attention as a potential nod to Russian interests. Given Georgia’s own struggles with Russian influence and election controversies, Orbán’s timing appeared significant, leading 13 EU foreign ministers to criticise the visit as a move that disregarded the EU’s expectations regarding Georgia’s governance and reform.
Orbán’s visit aligns with his recent commitment to a “neutral” economic policy, as laid out in Tusnádfürdő, where he announced Hungary’s intention to balance between global powers. Though Orbán has publicly positioned Hungary as neutral since September, the approach is causing tension among EU and NATO allies, who view his strengthening ties with Russia and China as incompatible with Hungary’s membership in both organisations.
Source: Facebook / Viktor Orbán
A statement from EU ministers
According to 444, the same 13 EU foreign ministers issued a statement condemning the irregularities in Georgia’s recent parliamentary elections, citing evidence from international observers that showed breaches of democratic standards. The ministers pressed the Georgian government to uphold the international electoral standards required for EU membership and called Orbán’s visit to Georgia “premature” and unnecessarily divisive. His presence also sparked tension locally, with mass protests erupting over the contested election results and even instances of Orbán being booed while near protest zones.
The statement from the EU’s 13 foreign ministers went on to demand impartial investigations into Georgian election complaints, insisting on accountability for any identified irregularities. They also urged the Georgian government to respond to the protests peacefully and stressed that Hungary, as a fellow EU member, should not endorse actions that undermine the democratic principles the EU represents.
Viktor Orbán’s approach is carving out an increasingly independent path for Hungary, one that resonates with Moscow but raises red flags within the EU. His recent moves, from his rhetoric on Brussels to his overtures in Georgia and pursuit of “neutrality”, are testing Hungary’s relationships with its EU and NATO allies, placing it in a delicate balancing act between East and West.
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.
A “rational” cooperation with Russia is the guarantee for the security of Hungary’s energy supply at competitive prices, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in Minsk on Thursday, after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
In a statement issued by his ministry, Szijjártósaid the sides had discussed bilateral ties, including a recent meeting of the Hungarian-Russian Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Commission at which intentions to further develop cooperation in areas unaffected by sanctions were affirmed. Energy was also a topic at the talks, he added.
He said Hungary had taken delivery of 6.2bn cubic metres of gas through the TurkStream pipeline so far this year, a record volume. The Druzhba pipeline will remain Hungary’s main source for deliveries of crude in future, he added.
Péter Szijjártó and Sergey Lavrov in Minsk on 31 October. Photo: MTI/EPA/Orosz külügyminisztérium sajtószolgálata
Szijjártó said work on the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant was “progressing well”, adding that the first concrete would be poured soon, putting the project officially in the “under construction” phase.
He said the talks had also touched on a number of other topics important from an international political perspective.
Szijjártó urges intl community to resume Eurasian cooperation
The international community should seek to build rather than burn bridges, and should resume Eurasian cooperation, Szijjártó said in Minsk.
Addressing the opening of the Minsk Conference on Eurasian Security, Szijjártó said the global security situation was at its worst since the second world war, warning that there was even a risk of a global armed conflict.
Szijjártó said it was an “honour” to present Hungary’s position, adding that “nowadays, huge and strong powers are working to create an overwhelming hegemony of opinion”, and if a country did not fully align with the mainstream, its right to represent its opinion was immediately questioned.
“If you don’t fall in line with the mainstream 100 percent … you are immediately stigmatised, you are immediately attacked, you are immediately accused,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement.
Hungary insists on preserving its sovereignty, even though “there are some powers outside of the country and some actors inside who want us to give up at least a part of our sovereignty”, he said.
“But I would like to ensure you that this will never happen,” he said. “It’s high time that all participants of international politics understood that we Hungarians will protect every inch of our sovereignty.” The minister said sovereignty for Hungary meant that the country refused to accept any “diktats”, that its actions were driven by national interests, and that it viewed the world from its own perspective.
“For us, sovereignty means that no one can tell us what to think, what to say and what to do,” he said.
Szijjártó warned that unless there were fundamental changes in global politics in the near future, the world would again be divided into geopolitical blocs. This, he said, went against Hungary’s interests, and the government instead aimed to bolster connectivity.
This, he added, required replacing “the practice of burning bridges with building bridges”.
He expressed concern that global powers were not prepared to cooperate with each other. “Because of this lack of dialogue, the European Union, for example, has become a less safe and a less competitive place compared with what it was 1,000 days ago,” the minister said. “If we cannot come back to the principle of dialogue and mutual respect, Europe is going to be a more dangerous place and Europe will lose more growth potential in the future.”
He said both Europe and Asia benefitted significantly from cooperation, but without cooperation both had a lot to lose. “I think it’s always better to be among the winners than among the losers,” he added.
He said the Hungarian government has adopted a strategy of economic neutrality which meant that Hungary refused to accept any restrictions concerning whom it can cooperate with.
“We cooperate with everyone from the East and everyone from the West, with whomever cooperation makes sense…” he said. “We dislike sanction politics, and we want a global trade and global economic system operated in a free and fair manner.”
Szijjártó also spoke out against the “over-ideologisation and over-politicisation” of energy supply, which, he added, had resulted in electricity in Europe costing 2-3 times what it costs in the United States, and natural gas costing 4-5 times as much.
He said that while political cooperation between the East and the West seemed “far away”, economic cooperation was working, arguing that Hungary had become a key meeting point between Eastern and Western businesses, mainly in the auto industry.
He pointed to the example of Hungary’s upgrade of its Paks nuclear power plant, noting that American, German, French, Swiss and Austrian subcontractors were working on the project alongside Russia’s Rosatom.
Szijjártó criticised the “hypocrisy” of the West attacking Hungary while France has increased its imports of Russian liquefied natural gas by 80 percent, and Spain has doubled and Belgium has tripled them.
“We Hungarians are the only ones who speak about the need for Eurasian cooperation openly, and there are many who think similarly, they are just not brave enough to represent their position,” Szijjártó said.
“So let me encourage our Western friends and allies to be braver, to be more honest, to be more patriotic and stand up for their own national interests,” he said. “Let’s re-engage in international political talks. Let’s stop burning bridges. Let’s start building bridges, and let’s come back to the reconstruction of Eurasian cooperation.”
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó in Geneva on Wednesday highlighted the “impartial operations” of the International Red Cross, and expressed support for its position on “keeping communications channels open on all sides”.
Speaking at the 34th International Red Cross Conference, Szijjártó said: “The war in Ukraine is the most serious humanitarian crisis in Europe in recent decades… As a neighbouring country, we have been bearing the heavy impact of these challenges for nearly a thousand days.”
Hungary, in cooperation with the Red Cross, is implementing the largest humanitarian aid programme in its history, the foreign ministry quoted Szijjártó as saying, adding that some 1.4 million refugees from Ukraine had entered Hungary since the Russian invasion.
Hungary will continue its humanitarian action “as long as it is needed”, and support Red Cross activities, he said.
“We don’t want more people to die and even more families to be torn apart… Hungary has supported and will support all international initiatives aimed at establishing the quickest possible peace in Ukraine,” Szijjártó said.
“But peace can only be reached through dialogue and talks. Therefore I want to express our appreciation to the Red Cross for its impartial … operations and its goal to keep communications channels open on both sides; we support this approach,” Szijjártó said.
Hungary “firmly supports” the Red Cross position that sanctions must not hinder humanitarian activities, he said.
The minister also said Hungary was proud to host the Red Cross’s regional office for Europe and the global service centre of the International Federation of the Red Cross, and he pledged the government’s continued assistance to ensure its operations.
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.
Hungary’s foreign ministry has summoned Croatia’s ambassador to Budapest over recent comments made by Ivan Anusic, Croatia’s defence minister.
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said in response to a question at a joint press conference with his Cuban counterpart on Friday that Hungary strives for the best possible relations with all of its neighbours, including Croatia.
“And this is why it’s unexpected that the Croatian defence minister appears to have chosen a new sports discipline, which is insulting Hungarians,” Szijjártó said, according to a ministry statement. “There was no antecedent to this, which was why we ignored the minister’s first remark, but I refused to ignore the second one.”
“I respectfully ask the Croatian government not to drag us into their domestic political debates with their president,” he added.
Photo: FB/Ivan Anusic
“We have nothing to do with the debate between the Croatian government and president; they should settle this among themselves and shouldn’t insult Hungary under the guise of this debate in the future,” the minister said. “I don’t think our bilateral relations warrant them involving us in this debate.”
Szijjártó referred to Croatian President Zoran Milanovic’s refusal to approve a government proposal for Croatia to participate in a coordinated security assistance and training plan for Ukraine that was approved at this year’s NATO summit.
Ivan Anusic, the defence minister, then said at a committee meeting that Croatia’s refusal to back the plan would make it “similar to Hungary”. Two days later he said that Croatia opting out of a military role would put it on the side of Serbia and Hungary “which openly support Russia”.
Croatian Ambassador Mladen Andrlic was received at the ministry by the deputy state secretary responsible for the region.
According to 444.hu, Ivan Anusic mentioned Hungary during a parliamentary debate. He said Hungary questioned Croatia’s territorial integrity. That is why we do not participate in the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine programme. He added Hungary and Serbia openly supported Putin, and Croatia should not be similar to Hungary.
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Hungarian opposition parties have made statements in connection with the commemoration of the anti-Soviet uprising 68 years ago, in 1956.
Green party LMP said in a statement on Wednesday that October 23 sent the clear message that when a people stood up for its own freedom, “even if their struggle fails, their sacrifice will not and cannot be in vain”. “Our heroes gave their lives so the next generations could weigh the true sense of freedom, so their children and grandchildren would not live in servitude.”
The Dialogue-Greens party said in a post on Facebook that the “regime” of Viktor Orbán had “spat in the face of” the 1956 heroes, adding that “we must create a new community based on values”. “We’re once again living under oppression: a narrow elite has stolen Hungary and closed its doors to the West while opening its doors to the East once more.”
Jobbik Hungary Movement deputy leader Koloman Brenner said: “We hold the [1956] flag high and proclaim the revolution’s central motto, “Russians, go home!”
Speaking at a commemoration held at the statue of Péter Mansfeld, who was executed at a tender age in Budapest, the Jobbik politician said those who flooded the streets in 1956 were “Hungarian patriots who wanted to live in freedom in their own country”. Jobbik, he added, objected to any attempt to falsify history, “whether by a Russian textbook in which the heroes of fifty-six are described as fascist mobs, or by Fidesz career patriots”.
Socialist Party leader Imre Komjáthi marked the national holiday on Tuesday evening in Kaposvár, in southern Hungary. Speaking at a commemoration at the statue of martyred prime minister Imre Nagy, a native of Kaposvár, Komjáthi said the holiday was a celebration of freedom and heroism.
The heroes of 1956 “burned with a yearning for freedom and love of the homeland,” he said, adding that statements “belittling the memory of our fallen compatriots are unacceptable”. “People who use sovereignty as a rhetorical tool against an imaginary enemy, but who would offer the keys of the country to an aggressor in real trouble have no place in Hungarian politics,” he said.
At the Democratic Coalition’s commemoration in Budapest, party leader Ferenc Gyurcsány said that Hungary was living “in an upside-down world where traitors are making to be celebrating the holiday of freedom and national independence on behalf of the community”.
The revolution had aimed to rid Hungary of Russian-Soviet rule, he said. “That’s what it was about, and then it’s about how everyone who watches Ukraine’s fight against Russian rule in disgust is a traitor.”
“There’s a special place in hell for those who maintain neutrality in times of moral crises,” he said. “The Hungarian government is even worse, because they are simply taking the murderers’ side … and betraying the cause of fifty-six, that of Hungarian freedom and independence…” he said.
The party’s board members laid a wreath at the memorial at the Square of the Heroes of 1956.
Péter Magyar, the head of the opposition Tisza Party, and the party’s Budapest representatives laid wreaths at the New Public Cemetery in the capital. The Tisza Party laid flowers at plots 301, 300 and 298 at the graves of martyred Prime Minister Imre Nagy and other 1956 heroes. “Glory and respect to the heroes without whom Hungary would not be free in its current form,” the statement said.
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
Tisza Party MEP András Kulja in Strasbourg on 22 October 2024. Photo: MTI/Purger Tamás
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.
A recent study by Závecz Research, conducted in early October, delved into public perceptions of the war in Ukraine. The survey examined Hungary’s perceived threat level, views on the defence capabilities of the Hungarian armed forces, and support for EU and NATO membership. This representative poll, commissioned by security policy expert Péter Tarjányi, gathered responses from 1,000 individuals via telephone.
War in Ukraine: Aggression or defence?
Indexreports that the Závecz Research survey reveals shifting public perceptions in Hungary regarding the war in Ukraine. While a consistent 65% of the population continues to view the conflict as Russian aggression, and 62% hold Russia responsible, there has been a notable shift in views on whether Russia acted defensively. Over the past two years, the proportion of Hungarians who believe Russia initiated the war in Ukraine for defensive reasons has increased from 13% to 22%. Meanwhile, those who blame Ukraine for the conflict have risen from 16% to 26%. Among pro-government Fidesz voters, opinions have shifted dramatically, with 53% now blaming Ukraine, reversing the previous majority that attributed responsibility to Russia. The number of undecided voters has also significantly decreased across the board.
Would Hungarians defend their country?
The survey indicates a slight decline in Hungarians’ willingness to defend their country in the event of an attack. Currently, 46% would be prepared to fight or assist the army, down from 50% two years ago. While only 4% believe it highly likely that the war in Ukraine will spread to Hungary, 41% consider it possible but unlikely. Index notes that concerns about the war in Ukraine spreading to Hungary are more prevalent among Fidesz voters, rural populations, and those with lower levels of education.
Humanitarian aid is the most favoured form of support for Ukraine, with 55% of respondents supporting this option, while only 18% back military aid. Among government party voters, 63% support only humanitarian assistance, and none support military aid.
Photo: depositphotos.com
EU and NATO
The poll shows strong support among Hungarians for remaining in both the European Union and NATO, with 68% favouring continued EU membership and 78% supporting NATO membership. However, opinions are divided along party lines. Among Fidesz-KDNP voters, 46% support remaining in the EU, while 37% favour leaving. Support for NATO is stronger, with only 17% of Fidesz voters favouring an exit. Voters of the opposition Tisza and DK parties tend to be more consistently pro-NATO and pro-EU.
The survey also highlights dissatisfaction with Hungary’s often anti-EU stance on the war in Ukraine, reflected in a moderate public disapproval rating of 2.7 on a five-point scale. Concerns over Hungary’s alignment with Russia and China are growing, with two-thirds of respondents fearing negative consequences from diverging from EU and NATO positions. Despite this, a majority (60%) still prioritise maintaining good relations with the EU over Russia and China.
Photo: NATO
Hungarians do not see neighbouring countries as a threat
The Závecz Research survey reveals that only 16% of Hungarians believe there is a neighbouring country to fear militarily, with Ukraine being the most feared (11%), followed by Romania (7%). Confidence in Hungary’s defence capabilities remains low, with only 6% believing that the Hungarian armed forces would definitely be able to defend the country, while 34% are convinced they would not. Trust in the military is higher among government supporters. In terms of a potential West-East military confrontation, 12% of respondents consider it very likely within the next decade, while 55% think it is possible but unlikely.
According to local media, the Hungarian television network TV2’s owner is looking to acquire TVN, Poland’s largest TV station, raising concerns in Warsaw about hidden Russian influence.
Following the 2023 Polish elections, the right-wing Law and Justice Party (PiS), led by Jarosław Kaczyński, lost its grip on both political power and the state broadcaster, TVP. TVP had played a key role in PiS’s media strategy, serving as a platform for pro-government propaganda. Without this tool, Kaczyński emphasised the need for the right wing to secure a new major television channel. In response, PiS shifted its focus to Poland’s commercial broadcasters, with TVN, the country’s most-watched private network, becoming a primary target.
According to 444, TVP acted as a major propaganda tool for the ruling PiS party for years, similar to Hungary’s public media under Fidesz. The channel pushed controversial narratives, including warnings of an LGBTQ “invasion” under opposition rule and publishing fake photos to discredit Donald Tusk and his family. While PiS’s propaganda helped rally its core supporters, it failed to attract broader public backing. After Tusk’s Civic Platform won the elections in October and formed a coalition government, they quickly replaced PiS loyalists running public media. Despite protests, PiS lost its primary media stronghold.
Throughout PiS’s seven years in power, Poland’s media landscape remained more diverse than Hungary’s, with independent newspapers and TV stations maintaining influence. This diversity allowed for independent opinions within both opposition and right-wing media, contrasting Hungary’s more uniform pro-government messaging. However, the PiS leadership continued to believe in the dominance of opposition media, particularly foreign-owned outlets, which they viewed as adversaries. The government repeatedly pushed for “repolonisation,” aiming to increase Polish ownership in the media sector, especially in response to German-controlled media companies.
In 2021, PiS sought to curb the influence of TVN, owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, through a law designed to limit the stakes non-EU companies could hold in Polish media. This legislation, widely known as “Lex TVN,” was ultimately blocked, when President Andrzej Duda, who had been nominated by PiS, refused to sign the bill into law. According to reports, Duda’s decision was influenced by U.S. President Joe Biden, due to concerns about restricting American media ownership in Poland. As a result, PiS had to look for other ways to gain influence over TVN.
Andrzej Duda, president of Poland. Source: MTI
Hungarian interests emerge in TVN acquisition
Now, reports indicate that PiS is seeking to acquire TVN with the help of Hungarian business interests. As reported by Blikk, the Hungarian TV2 network, owned by József Vida, has emerged as a potential buyer for TVN. The deal could involve an investment of at least HUF 500 billion (more than EUR 1.2 billion). However, Polish media outlets have raised concerns about this possible acquisition, particularly regarding the financial backing behind Vida.
In addition to TV2, other bidders are reportedly interested in purchasing TVN. These include an unnamed American broadcaster and the PFF Group, a Dutch-registered company originally founded by the late Czech billionaire Petr Kellner. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns TVN, is facing financial difficulties, with its stock having dropped by 70% over the past two and a half years. This situation could make the company more willing to sell its Polish assets.
Alleged Russian influence and concerns over national security
Though József Vida owns TV2, his wealth may not be enough to finance such a large transaction. This has fueled speculation that the actual financial backing may come from other figures within Hungary’s National Cooperation System (NER), particularly Lőrinc Mészáros, a Hungarian oligarch closely tied to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Mészáros has previously been linked to Russian business interests, including ownership of the luxury yacht Rose d’Or, which was once connected to Russian oligarch Konstantin Strukov. Due to these ties, the Polish government has expressed concerns about potential Russian influence over the media market, especially given Hungary’s historically friendly ties with Moscow. Polish officials have even alerted the United States to the potential security risks associated with this acquisition.
Lőrinc Mészáros, the billionaire presumed to be behind the acquisition. Source: MTI
The potential acquisition of TVN by Hungarian interests, with alleged Russian ties, has sparked concerns in Poland and the broader geopolitical arena. For PiS, gaining control over the country’s largest private broadcaster would be a significant victory in regaining media influence. However, the involvement of foreign entities, particularly those with suspected Russian links, has raised concerns in both Poland and the United States, leading to heightened scrutiny of the potential sale.
Read about Warner Bros. Discovery’s plans to sell their Polish asset here
Learn more about Lőrinc Mészáros and his ties to Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán here
… and his yacht previously owned by a Russian oligarch here
Somebody in the Budapest mayoral office made a shocking error by inviting the Russian and the Belarusian ambassadors to the planting of the Tree of Peace. Regularly, the two diplomats are not invited by the Budapest leadership to any of their events. Now, the Belarusian came, but several NATO and EU member states boycotted the celebration. Karácsony apologised.
Planting Tree of Peace with Russian diplomats in Budapest?
Michael Wallace Banach, apostolic nuncio to Hungary, and Gergely Karácsony, the Mayor of Budapest, plantedthe “Tree of Peace” on Margaret Island. However, several NATO and EU member states boycotted the celebratory event. Karácsony said in his short speech that the tree symbolises their commitment and unbroken desire for peace.
However, Karácsony’s office invited the Russian and the Belarusian ambassadors to the event. After Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the diplomats of the two states were persona non grata on such occasions. Several NATO and EU member states spotted the unwanted attendees when checking the recipients. Lots of them were outraged reading the names.
Gergely Karácsony speaking at another event. Photo: FB/Karácsony
Karácsony’s office apologises
Therefore, on Tuesday, they agreed on an event held at the Czech embassy in Budapest not to participate in Karácsony’s tree planting. Some NATO and EU member states attended the event. Szabad Európa wrote that for example Paul Fox, the ambassador of the United Kingdom, was among the attendees. The Belarusian ambassador was also there; however, probably his Russian colleague understood there was only a technical error and did not go.
Later, Karácsony’s office highlighted that there was an administrative mistake. They apologised and cleared that Karácsony’s condemnation concerning the Russian aggression in Ukraine is unchanged.
The Budapest Chain Bridge in the colours of the Ukrainian flag on 25 February, 2024. Photo: FB/Karácsony
NATO and EU diplomats do not boycott other events in Budapest
On the other hand, Hungary’s Foreign Affairs Ministry always invites the Russian and Belarusian ambassadors to all events. For example, they held a traditional harvest for diplomats in the Tokaj Wine Region. Based on Szabad Európa’s information, diplomats from the Russian and Belarusian embassies participated in it. None of the embassies boycotted the event though they tried to keep their distance from their Russian and Belarusian colleagues at least while taking photos.
Furthermore, NATO, EU, Russian and Belarusian diplomats participated in the traditional “diplomatic run”.
Szabad Európa asked the British and the Russian embassies for comment but they have not received an answer yet.
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