President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine travelled to Washington, DC to sign the agreement that would create a co-owned fund between the US and Ukraine that would manage Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. However, the meeting came to a premature end, as President Trump asked Zelenskyy to leave after a tense discussion in front of the media, cancelling their scheduled lunch and joint press conference.
At the Peace Through Strength conferences hosted by the Center for Fundamental Rights in Budapest, the distinguished guests discussed the new geopolitical realities brought on by the second Trump administration. They have put a special emphasis on the Hamas–Israeli war, and the attacks on the religious freedom of Jews and Christians alike around the world.
Hungary’s Opening to the East strategy has been one of the country’s most significant economic achievements over the past 15 years, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. Speaking in Budapest, he stressed that Hungary rejects an economic cold war and has greatly benefited from East–West cooperation.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has outlined his government’s ambitious plan to restructure Hungary’s tax system with families at its core. In a radio interview, he reaffirmed his commitment to boosting birth rates through tax benefits while pledging decisive action against inflation. He also addressed international affairs, domestic security, and social policies, including measures against drug trafficking and gender ideology in schools.
The Danube Institute hosted an event dedicated to free speech in the UK and Brexit titled ‘Renewing UK Politics: Conservative Challenges and the Road to Prosperity’. The panel featured Senior Researcher Guy Dampier and Managing Director Dr Radomir Tylecote from the London-based conservative think tank Prosperity Institute, as well as Visiting Fellow Doug Stokes from the Danube Institute.
In a groundbreaking medical development, Hungary has successfully administered its first CAR-T cell therapy to two children with leukaemia at the South-Pest Hospital Centre. This cutting-edge immunotherapy, which genetically modifies a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer, marks a significant step forward in paediatric oncology.
US President Donald Trump has expressed approval of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s possible visit to Washington on Friday to sign a US–Ukraine economic partnership agreement. Calling it a ‘major deal’, Trump emphasized its significance, particularly regarding rare minerals and broader economic cooperation.
Multiple news outlets were able to demonstrate that, as of late February 2025, if a user said the word ‘racist’ to Apple’s voice note feature, it often first transcribed it as ‘Trump’ before correcting itself to the actual word. Apple has responded to the controversy, saying they are aware of the issue and fixing the bug.
Just an hour ago, independent candidate Călin Georgescu, who had won the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, which was subsequently suspended by the Romanian Constitutional Court without any evidence, was arrested without prior notice.
Hungary is set to become the first country in the world to implement a nationwide e-receipt system, a move expected to enhance fair competition, simplify administration for businesses, and strengthen consumer protection. The initiative is already attracting international interest.
Hungary remains committed to its strict migration policy, which enjoys broad public support, according to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief security adviser György Bakondi. Speaking on national television, he stressed that Hungary prioritizes national security and aims to influence European migration policies.
‘…an attempt to invest into alternative suppliers…can be understood as an effort to diversify supply chains amid rising competition between Washington and Beijing. The United State’s quest to secure its supply of critical minerals is especially timely given the fact that a couple of months ago, in December 2024 China imposed restrictions on the export of several minerals and metals to the US.’
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has given a speech at the United Nations’ Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland. In it, he pointed out that Hungary has been saying for the last three years that only a Russian–American agreement can bring peace to Europe again, which is exactly what is happening now; and called on ‘pro-war leaders’ of the world not to obstruct the peace talks with Moscow.
The refurbishment of Budapest’s Metro Line 3 included a complete reconstruction of its train carriages by a Russian partner, BKV confirmed. Although the project was initially described as a renovation, the trains’ structures were entirely rebuilt due to their poor condition.
Washington and Kyiv have finally come to an agreement on the joint extraction of critical resources, including rare earth minerals from Ukraine’s reserves. While the exact terms of the deal remain unknown, it could represent a significant step towards reducing American dependence on Chinese imports of the most essential resources of the future.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia is ready to cooperate with American companies regarding the country’s vast reserves of rare earth metals and minerals. The move weakened Ukraine’s negotiating position, as a similar deal is reportedly in the making between Washington and Kyiv, with only the final details left to be finalized.
Hungarian researchers have developed new space weather data products to enhance the accuracy of forecasting solar-driven phenomena that impact satellites and Earth-based technology. The innovation, led by the HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, will help mitigate risks posed by extreme space weather events.
Bryan Leib has praised Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary’s newly announced policy of giving income tax exemptions to mothers of two or more children. He has also suggested that the United States should implement a similar policy and even tagged Elon Musk in his reply.
Liverpool, with Hungary National Team Captain Dominik Szoboszlai in their starting line-up, beat defending champions Manchester City 2–0 away from home, thus increasing their lead on the table to 11 points over Arsenal. Szoboszlai, who scored a goal and gave an assist in the crucial game, is getting closer to becoming the first Hungarian player to win the English Premier League trophy.
Friedrich Merz’s CDU was declared the winner of Germany’s early elections on Sunday, securing 28.5 per cent of the vote. However, the true victor of the election is undeniably the AfD, which nearly doubled its support and reshaped the long-standing political landscape of the EU powerhouse.
Hungary is on the brink of an economic breakthrough, with at least eight key indicators pointing to a positive shift, according to Minister for National Economy Márton Nagy. Speaking at the Companies for the Future Award gala in Budapest, he highlighted rising employment, real wage growth, and surging industrial activity as critical factors.
Hungary is set to implement Europe’s most extensive tax reduction programme, benefiting nearly one million families. The initiative expands personal income tax exemptions and doubles child tax allowances, ensuring substantial financial support for parents.
Hungarian Magnitsky Act, the appointment of a special envoy to Washington to collect evidence of USAID’s meddling in Hungary, and Europe’s largest tax cut—these are just a few of the vast initiatives Viktor Orbán announced in his annual State of the Nation speech. Highlighting Hungary’s political resilience, the Hungarian PM declared that 2025 would mark not just survival but victory, describing it as a ‘breakthrough year’.
Political Director for the Prime Minister of Hungary Balázs Orbán has appeared on the show Mornings with Maria hosted by Maria Bartiromo, where he shared his optimism about the recently started diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Russia regarding the potential end to the Russo–Ukrainian war.
Reigning Hungarian champions Ferencváros won the first leg of their tie against Viktoria Plzeň 1–0 at home. However, they lost the rematch 3–0 on the road, thus it was the Czech side Plzeň who got to qualify to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated in a radio interview on public Kossuth Radio that his government’s budget strategy depended on the outcome of the US presidential election. He criticized foreign influence in European politics and reaffirmed Hungary’s commitment to economic stability and national sovereignty.
According to a recent poll by CBS News, 2 percentage points more people identify as Republican in the United States than Democrat. By comparison, when President Trump was starting his first term in 2017, Democrats had a five-point edge over the GOP in the same survey.
According to recently released data by the Central Statistical Office (KSH), 29 per cent fewer new apartments were built in Hungary in 2024 than in the year prior. The total number of new apartments built was 13,295 in the country last year.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó described his meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington as ‘very positive’. The two officials addressed bilateral trade and investment, as well as sensitive topics such as the Biden administration’s sanctions on a senior Hungarian government official and the reinstatement of the double taxation avoidance agreement between the two countries.
On 18 February 2025 Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in Hungary at the invitation of President of the Republic of Hungary Tamás Sulyok. According to Sulyok, a strong Israel is essential both for the fight against antisemitism and for a secure future for the Middle East and Europe. The Hungarian head of state emphasized that there is an ongoing dialogue between Hungary and Israel and that there are no problematic issues.