Slop Check Special: FT’s Fanfiction Addiction
It frequently turns out FT’s reporting is questionable at best, complete nonsense at worst. Practically fanfiction, even.
It frequently turns out FT’s reporting is questionable at best, complete nonsense at worst. Practically fanfiction, even.
Hungarian FM Péter Szijjártó said new US sanctions on Russia’s energy sector have not yet impacted Hungary and stressed that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary may discuss the issue with President Trump next week. He praised Trump’s role in past and current peace efforts, claiming that he brings hope for resolving crises in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The Kremlin has indicated that plans for a Trump–Putin peace summit in Budapest remain on track, even after Washington sanctioned Rosneft and Lukoil. Putin’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev said the sides are ‘quite close’ to a deal on Ukraine, welcoming Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s recent shift toward accepting a ceasefire along current frontlines.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán marked the 1956 Revolution anniversary with a defiant speech in Budapest, vowing that Hungary ‘will not die for Ukraine, but will live for Hungary.’ Addressing tens of thousands, he accused Brussels of ‘dragging Europe into war’ and declared that ‘Budapest will be the capital of European peace.’
A ceasefire in Ukraine is possible only through intensified pressure on Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the EU summit in Brussels, calling for tougher sanctions, advanced air defense systems, and continued financial aid.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, DC, on Wednesday to discuss preparations for the planned Trump–Putin peace summit in Budapest. Despite reports of a cancellation, Szijjártó said the US ‘has not given up’ on the summit, stressing that the question is one of timing, not intention.
The MCC Leadership Academy’s ‘Sailing in Storm’ conference explored leadership in times of crisis, with speakers discussing resilience, adaptability, and the impact of the rising AI technology. The distinguished speakers included, among others, Balázs Orbán, Mark Khater, Gábor Csepregi, and Katalin Erdei.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hosted Alice Weidel, co-chair of Germany’s AfD, in Budapest on Monday. Weidel praised Hungary for hosting the upcoming Trump–Putin peace summit, calling Budapest ‘the best place in the world’ and commending Orbán’s leadership in promoting dialogue and stability in Europe.
Only three out of the 45 Presidents of the United States have visited Hungary during their time in office, with two more coming to our country after they served. President Trump will soon become the fourth incumbent POTUS to come to Budapest, to have important peace talks with President Putin of Russia.
The Danube Institute hosted a high-level discussion on the EU’s future, where Balázs Hidvéghi, Stefano Arroque, Daniel Hinšt, and Péter Kruzslicz agreed that the bloc’s growing centralization has created a structural crisis. Speakers urged reform, respect for sovereignty, and a return to the principle of subsidiarity.