Hungary’s FM Péter Szijjártó slammed EU ministers in Brussels as ‘insane’ over Ukraine, criticizing their support for Kyiv despite a major corruption scandal. He called for accountability on aid, warned the war is ‘unwinnable’ for the Ukrainians, and urged Brussels leadership to back President Trump’s peace efforts.
The Hungarian Institute of International Affairs’ first EastSec Forum examined Europe’s shifting security landscape amid the Russo–Ukrainian war. Speakers, including HIIA President Gladden J Pappin and Zachary Paikin of the Quincy Institute, stressed Hungary’s growing mediating role, the collapse of post–Cold War security structures, and the need to rebuild guarantees for lasting peace.
‘Rather than embracing theoretical frameworks like the concept of the EU as a “liberal empire”, what is now needed is a far more pragmatic approach—one that focuses on enhancing economic competitiveness and developing strategies aimed at strengthening the role of the EU in the global economy.’
‘Orbán’s multi-vector commercial policy, which balances energy cooperation with Russia, selective investment from China, and strategic alignment with Washington, allows Hungary to act as a stabilizing bridge between great powers.’
‘Spain’s cultural diplomacy in Chengdú and Beijing may win headlines, but its deeper strength lies in its ties to the Ibero-American world.’
‘Shortly after the press conference between the two countries, the mainstream media began to sow doubts about Hungary’s diplomatic achievement. Citing anonymous sources, Reuters and the BBC started to spread rumours that Hungary received its exemption for only one year.’
Key Trump ally Steve Bannon praised Hungary and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, saying the country is ‘thriving’ because it has resisted mass migration. Comparing Hungary and Poland to Western Europe, he argued that nations like Germany, France, and England are ‘collapsing’ due to their migration policies.
Hungarian Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky confirmed that Hungary plans to acquire HIMARS rocket artillery systems from the United States, marking a new phase in bilateral defence cooperation. He said talks at the Pentagon followed the Trump–Orbán summit, which removed political obstacles that had stalled military contracts under the previous US administration.
‘Attacks from the Dems are ultimately to be expected, with the cause secondary to the pure utility of attacking Europe’s most effective right-wing leader.’
Hungary could become a regional reference point in the field of modular nuclear reactors, Olivér Hortay, Head of energy and climate policy at the Századvég Foundation said following the new US–Hungarian agreement enabling the deployment of small modular reactors.