English

More about this topic

Europe News

Our sons will not die for Ukraine, Orbán says ahead of April elections

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán rallied supporters in Budapest, framing April's election as a choice between peace and war, while lashing out at Ukraine's Zelenskyy and the EU over the Druzhba pipeline dispute.

Europe News

Will Orbán lift his veto before the elections? Brussels wants to know

Officials and diplomats in Brussels are seriously contemplating a scenario in which Viktor Orbán's veto on the €90 billon loan for Ukraine drags on until after the Hungarian elections on 12 April. It's unclear what happens after.

Europe News

EU asks Ukraine to allow inspection to oversee damaged pipeline

As the Hungarian veto on the €90 billion loan for Ukraine drags on, the European Commission has formally proposed an inspection to check the damage on the Druzhba pipeline at the core of the dispute.

Europe News

Hungary, Slovakia resist renewal of Russia sanctions as deadline nears

The European Union wants to renew the individual sanctions on Russia by 15 March. But Hungary and Slovakia are blocking the decision. Tensions are running high between the three over the damaged Druzhba oil pipeline.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ukraine

Hungary sends Druzhba fact-finding mission to Ukraine

A Hungarian government delegation has entered Ukraine to assess the Druzhba pipeline, damaged in a Russian drone strike in January. Ukraine refuses to recognize the delegation and has described its members as “tourists.”

Ukraine

Ukraine seeks return of money and valuables seized in Hungary

Kyiv is seeking help from the EU to recover money and valuables seized by Hungary last week, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ordered the government to hold cash and gold seized from a Ukrainian bank for up to 60 days amid an ongoing investigation.

Europe News

Hungary demands EU lift sanctions on Russian energy as prices surge

Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán has written to EU leaders demanding a suspension of sanctions on Russian energy as energy prices surge. The European Commission has not responded yet.

Europe News

Ukraine's Oschadbank demands money back, denies mafia allegations

The bank is demanding the return of $40m, €35m and 9kg of gold seized by Hungarian authorities near Budapest, flatly rejecting Hungarian claims the funds were linked to organised crime or opposition party financing. The personnel on the cash-carrier have been banned from the EU for three years.

Europe Today

Hungary's elections, Ukraine's loan — as April nears, tensions boil

Last week, tension reached a breaking point when Hungarian anti-terror police raided a Ukrainian state bank convoy carrying cash and gold. In response, Kyiv accused Budapest of taking its citizens hostage. But hold on, how did we get here?

Europe News

Ukraine accuses Hungary of seizing bank convoy carrying cash, staff

Kyiv claims Hungarian authorities kidnapped seven employees of the Ukrainian Oschadbank, together with a large quantity of cash and gold, and has warned its citizens to avoid transiting Hungary.

Europe News

Orbán tightens border controls as Iran crisis hits Hungary's campaign

Hungary's prime minister has raised the country's security alert level and increased checks as the Iran conflict spirals. Analysts say he is successfully using the crisis to boost his party ahead of the April election.

Europe News

Putin releases two Hungarian-Ukrainian prisoners of war

Russian President Vladimir Putin handed two Hungarian-Ukrainian prisoners of war to Hungary during Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó's visit to Moscow, where energy supply was also discussed.

Europe News

Hungarian veto proves EU needs less unanimity, says new Dutch PM

"The Netherlands is back," Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten declared on his first trip to Brussels since taking office.

Europe News

Orbán and Zelenskyy clash again over Druzhba, with Brussels in between

As the dispute over the Druzhba pipeline persists, EU officials are hoping that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make a move.

World News

Orbán raises terror alert and eyes election gains amid Iran war

Hungary raises its terror threat level and renews pressure on Ukraine to restore Russian oil flows, as the Israel-US strikes on Iran roil global energy markets — handing Orbán a campaign boost.

Europe News

'Something has to give': EU weighs options to lift Hungarian veto

Officials in Brussels are scrambling to find a solution to lift the Hungarian veto on the €90 billion loan to Ukraine. What options are on the table?

Europe News

Hungary’s energy giant threatens legal action against Croatia

The warnings from Hungary's MOL Group come amid heightened tensions between Budapest and the European Union. The dispute intensified after Hungary blocked the EU’s €90 billion financial package for Ukraine.

Europe News

Brussels welcomes mission to Druzhba, hoping to lift Hungarian veto

"We need to take the next steps to see what shape and form this fact-finding mission will take," Brussels said about the Hungarian-Slovak proposal.

Europe News

France, Czech SAFE plans cleared, sources say, but Hungary looms large

Hungary is holding up two packages of support to Ukraine, including a €90 billion loan the war-torn country needs as a matter of urgency.

Europe News

Orbán and Fico set up Druzhba investigative team

Hungary and Slovakia set up a joint team to investigate the Druzhba pipeline and demanded that Ukraine allow experts on-site. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accused Ukraine of lying and of “state terrorism” in a new attack.