At a Thursday afternoon event of Brain Bar 2022 held in the Hungarian House of Music, former British ambassador Iain Lindsay moderated an unorthodox discussion with the prime minister’s political director, Balázs Orbán.

While Russians are desperately trying to flee their country to escape mobilisation, their struggle for life and personal freedom receives little empathy from the West with the Baltic countries bordering Russia gradually closing their borders.

6 October is a National Day of Mourning in Hungary remembering the Thirteen Martyrs of Arad who made the ultimate sacrifice for Hungary’s freedom and independence after the defeat of the 1848–49 Revolution and Freedom Fight.

Our direct and indirect sanctions on Russian energy, food and fertiliser exports have severely backfired. By importing the effects of the war into Europe all the eurocrats have achieved is that we must now face the most perilous winter since 1945.