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.

The Hungarian government has pledged new reforms to strengthen protections for women following a high-profile domestic violence case that led to public outcry. Government spokesperson Eszter Vitályos emphasized the administration’s commitment to ensuring no cry for help goes unanswered.

The first two of the ten episodes of the new historical drama series Rise of the Raven will air on TV2 at 8pm on 8 March. The show centres around John Hunyadi, a military leader and statesman in the Kingdom of Hungary in the 15th century, who was a key figure in fighting back against the Ottoman invasion of Europe.

Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, about two-third of Germany’s eight brigades were combat-ready. According to Head of the German Armed Forces Association Colonel Andre Wuestner, that figure has declined to roughly 50 per cent due to the export of weapons and equipment to Ukraine.

The Israeli head of state met with both Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and President Tamás Sulyok of Hungary; and visited the famous Holocaust monument on the bank of the Danube river in Budapest as well. He also thanked Hungary for its continuous support to his nation since the 7 October attacks.

‘As of now most critical minerals originate from China, which controls about one third of the world’s total rare earth metal reserves. The attempt to invest into the Ukrainian mine industry is widely seen as an effort to diversify supply chains amid rising competition between Washington and Beijing.’

Alexandra Szentkirályi, leader of the Fidesz–KDNP group in Budapest, has urged Minister of Construction and Transport János Lázár to introduce new traffic regulations to tackle the ‘roller chaos’ caused by e-scooters. The proposal includes speed limits, parking rules, and improved cycling safety measures.

The Mathias Corvinus Collegium and the Educational Authority have honoured Hungary’s top 100 secondary schools at a grand gala event. Over 300 guests, including educators, school leaders, and students, gathered to celebrate excellence in teaching and talent development.

The United States and Russia held the first round of Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia, after which both sides agreed to work on improving relations and advancing toward a resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised the discussions, stating that the parties had not only listened but truly heard each other.

State Secretary for International Communication Zoltán Kovács of Hungary has responded to the chief advisor of city diplomacy for the Mayor of Budapest Dávid Korányi, who has claimed in an article for Time Magazine that President Trump’s freezing of USAID funding to foreign countries ‘threatens global democracy’.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó of Hungary has met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Deputy Prime Minister Murat Nurtileu of Kazakhstan in Astana, Kazakhstan. This is the third of a series of high-level diplomatic meetings between the two nations.

Hungarian troops have earned international recognition for their leadership in the EUFOR Althea peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky stated on Monday. The mission marked a historic milestone as Hungary took command of the EU’s peacekeeping mission for the first time.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán praised Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić as the ‘champion of Balkan stability’ during a press conference in Budapest on Monday. The leaders discussed energy security, economic ties, and the challenges facing their nations in an evolving geopolitical landscape.

‘Pro-war, anti-Trump, and frustrated European leaders are coming together with the clear intention of obstructing a peace agreement,’ Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó stressed on Monday. He was referring to the emergency summit hosted by Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where the most influential European countries are gathering to respond to US-led peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

Hungary’s 4iG S&D has signed a non-binding letter of intent with Houston-based Axiom Space to explore opportunities in the space sector, particularly in orbital data centre (ODC) services. The collaboration aims to leverage synergies between the two companies in space technology and infrastructure.

In a recent interview on Mandiner, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán asserted that Hungary remains a strong and committed nation with valuable experience to share with the world. Speaking during his return from Dubai, Orbán discussed Europe’s decline, the shifting global order, and Hungary’s place in a rapidly changing world.

Donald Trump’s team is scheduled to meet the Russian delegation on Monday in Saudi Arabia for the first round of peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Following the Munich Security Conference over the weekend, where European and Ukrainian participation in the talks remained uncertain amid conflicting statements, EU leaders are set to convene in Paris for an emergency summit. Meanwhile, on Sunday Zelenskyy arrived in the United Arab Emirates.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary has sat down with famed American political commentator Tucker Carlson for an interview again, this time in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. They have covered a wide array of important topics, such as the influence of the previous US administration on Hungarian politics, the state of the European economy, and most prominently, the potential end of the Russo–Ukrainian war.

The sign of life the family received from Hungarian Israeli Omri Miran may have been a ray of hope to hold on to; nevertheless, Hamas’ threat has brought the ceasefire to the brink of collapse.

Senior Fellow at the Center for Fundamental Rights and top contender to be the next US Ambassador to Hungary Bryan Leib has recently been interviewed by the Hungarian state television M1. In the interview, he covered a wide array of important topics, such as a potential ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia with Hungarian involvement, illegal immigration, and more.

Earlier this week Romanian President Klaus Iohannis resigned from his post following mounting pressure from the parliament pursuing an impeachment process against him. The controversy was sparked by the Romanian constitutional court’s decision last year to cancel the Romanian presidential elections and—as no new president was elected—lengthen Klaus Iohannis’ term in office.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has expressed optimism that a new US president committed to peace could end the war in Ukraine. Speaking on public Kossuth Radio, he emphasized Hungary’s long-standing peace strategy and highlighted the potential for major geopolitical and economic shifts.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán delivers a hard blow on EU leadership following Donald Trump’s announcement that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine will begin immediately. As Washington appears to be sidelining the EU in the talks, Orbán attributes this to Brussels’ failed diplomacy and weak leadership.