‘Just days after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared a Zeitenwende—a historic turning point—in the Bundestag, pledging greater support for Ukraine and a significant strengthening of Germany’s armed forces…Yet, despite ambitious plans and ongoing modernization efforts, the proclaimed turning point fell short of delivering the sweeping, immediate changes…’
After the European Council meeting on the Alaska summit, Viktor Orbán argued that Brussels’ Ukraine strategy had collapsed—its isolation policy, battlefield expectations, and membership promises as security guarantee all failed. With Trump’s team eyeing Budapest as the venue for a potential Putin–Zelenskyy summit, Hungary’s influence in Europe could be significantly bolstered.
Charge’ d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Budapest Robert Palladino and Director General for the Center for Fundamental Rights Miklós Szánthó spoke at the ceremonial opening of the The Martians — Hungarian Scientists and Nobel Laureates exhibition at Vörösmarty Square in Budapest, Hungary, which is dedicated to the great Hungarian scientific minds in history.
A historic Putin–Zelenskyy summit may soon take place in Hungary, US officials confirmed after Trump’s White House meeting with Zelenskyy and EU leaders. The summit, to be followed by a trilateral session with Trump, could mark a breakthrough in efforts to end the war.
Hungary will host a new United Nations University institute in Kőszeg, focusing on peace, security, transformative technologies, and future-shaping social and economic processes, strengthening the country’s role in international research.
Tensions flared between Budapest and Kyiv after Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of striking the Druzhba oil pipeline, vital for Hungary’s energy supply. His Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha shot back, blaming Hungary’s reliance on Russia and telling Budapest to address its ‘friends in Moscow’.
Tibor Kapu spent 18 days on the International Space Station as part of the Hungarian Government’s HUNOR space programme. He then spent an additional two days on board his spaceship before returning to Earth, bringing the total number of days he was outside the atmosphere to 20.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó spoke with both Washington and Moscow after the Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, stressing Hungary’s consistent call for peace. As the only EU state briefed by both sides, Budapest now holds a unique insight into Russia’s real intentions regarding a potential ceasefire agreement.
‘Closing the press conference, President Putin addressed Donald Trump in English and invited the American leader to meet “next time in Moscow”. It is an extremely rare occasion to hear the Russian President speaking in English.’
Following their Alaska meeting, Trump and Putin said they had reached an agreement to be presented to Ukraine and NATO. Putin called it a step toward securing Ukraine’s safety, while Trump admitted significant points still need to be negotiated.
An Austrian hunter shot a five-legged deer buck near Székkutas, Hungary earlier this month. Wild animals with an extra limb are extremely rare. In most of those rare cases, the deformity is caused by a congenital defect called polymelia.
Chinese automaker BYD will expand its retail and service network in Hungary with five new dealerships opening in late 2025, strengthening its presence beyond Budapest and offering its full range of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles nationwide.
Hungary’s MÁV Group has launched a nationwide station renovation programme covering more than 30 locations in 14 counties, investing 15 billion forints from its own resources and the Hungarian Village Programme to modernize rail travel.
Minister of Agriculture István Nagy of Hungary has taken part in the New Bread Celebrations in Csorna, Győr–Moson–Sopron County, Hungary, where he thanked Hungarian farmers for ‘diligence, perseverance, and dedicated work’. The day prior, his ministry announced that the summer harvest in Hungary had yielded more crops than expected.
Opposition protests in Serbia turned violent on 13 August in Újvidék, leaving 16 police officers and 64 civilians injured. President Aleksandar Vučić vowed to punish ‘violent offenders’ who are looking to ‘plunge Serbia into a civil war’.
Hungary’s largest pump track has opened in Zamárdi, offering cyclists of all skill levels a new attraction on the shores of Lake Balaton. The 67-million-forint project is expected to boost tourism and promote active lifestyle.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary could cause Ukraine’s collapse within a day by cutting energy supplies but has no intention of doing so. He declared ‘Ukraine has lost the war, Russia has won,’ adding that only Western aid is delaying the inevitable.
A Forsa poll shows Germany’s AfD ahead of the CDU, 26 to 24 per cent, the biggest lead since February’s election. The result mirrors a rightward trend across Europe, with Austria’s FPÖ, France’s National Rally and Reform UK also dominating national polls.
Record-breaking heatwaves are sweeping across Europe and beyond, with temperatures nearing 40°C in parts of the continent. Scientists warn the extreme weather is a clear sign of climate change, while fires and health risks escalate across affected regions.
This year’s US human rights report on Hungary marks a dramatic break from the Biden years, omitting past allegations on media freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, and corruption. Instead, it commends government action in several areas—a change Budapest calls a return to ‘respect’.
The Sziget Festival drew 416,000 visitors this year, a 5 per cent increase over 2024, thanks to fresh concepts, a younger audience, and diverse programming. Despite the boost, the event still fell short of profitability but showed improved results.
After drawing the away game, Ferencváros mounted a decisive, 3–0 victory over the Bulgarian champions PFC Ludogorets Razgrad at home in Budapest, Hungary. Now, Fradi is just one two-leg tie away from reaching the league phase of the UEFA Champions League—the final match-up will be against the Azeri side Qarabağ FK.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed an EU joint statement on the upcoming Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, breaking with the bloc’s 26 other members. While they welcomed Trump’s peace efforts, Orbán argued the EU should not set conditions for talks it was not invited to, urging instead an EU–Russia summit to ensure Europe’s voice in the process.
Hungary needs leadership accepted by all and capable of preserving peace, security, and economic growth, a role only Viktor Orbán can fulfill today, said his political director Balázs Orbán in an online interview on Monday.
On the night of 8 August, the Baltic Air Defence Readiness Unit of the Hungarian Defence Forces was called on its their first live Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) scramble, after an unidentified aircraft not willing to engage in radio communications with air traffic control entered the intranational air space over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft was identified as Russian, and was successfully captured by Hungarian fighter jets.
A new survey by the Szent István Institute and Nézőpont Institute shows nearly 60 per cent of Hungarians prefer government support for buying a home over rental housing construction, with ownership seen as a key to stability and independence.
During an 11 August press conference at the White House, Donald Trump said he had sought advice from Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on whether Ukraine can defeat Russia, calling the insight ‘very interesting’. Trump is set to meet Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss a potential peace framework for the war in Ukraine.
Head of the Center for Fundamental Rights Miklós Szánthó has published a lengthy Facebook post mocking radical leftist law professor Zoltán Fleck for suggesting that the rule of law should be suspended to change the constitution if the opposition only wins a simple majority in parliament in Hungary in next year’s election.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has called on France and Germany to take a leading role in engaging Russia ahead of the Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska on 15 August. Orbán stressed that Paris and Berlin, as key EU powers, must initiate an EU–Russian summit to ensure Europe is not sidelined in critical negotiations.
In his latest Blue Planet podcast, former Hungarian President János Áder spoke with energy expert Attila Aszódi about rising summer electricity demand, the shift toward electrification, and why nuclear energy may be essential for meeting climate targets.