Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha (L) shakes hands with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó on 30 September 2024 in Budapest.

Ukraine’s New Foreign Minister: No Change in Kyiv’s Foreign Policy?

Ever since Sybiha started working in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Ukraine there have been rumours that it was only a matter of time before he would replace Kuleba. It is widely believed that Kuleba could retain his seat from April to September only due to his good personal connections with US decision-makers—but with the presidential election preoccupying the White House, the Ukrainian leadership finally saw an opening to dispose of him.

The Hungarian delegation led by Péter Szijjártó in talks with their Kyrgyz counterparts on 19 Septemberin Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Hungarian Eastern Opening to Grow Stronger in Kyrgyzstan

Hungary’s strategic focus on Central Asia positions it as one of the key players in strengthening economic ties between the EU and the region. As outlined in the programme of Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the EU, the country has been planning to further strengthen its economic ties with Central Asia, building on the New EU Central Asia Strategy adopted by the EU in 2019, which aligns closely with Hungary’s own regional interests.

UPDATED Iran Launches Missile Barrage Against Israel

Iran launched a major missile attack on Israel on Tuesday, just hours after the Jewish state began a ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán convened a meeting of the government’s National Security Cabinet and also condemned the Iranian attack in a post on X.

‘Friends of Peace’ Group Formed at UN on Hungary’s Initiative

The ‘Friends of Peace’ group was established at the United Nations last Friday on Hungary’s initiative. Led by China and Brazil, the 15-member group aims to facilitate the initiation of peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine and promote the implementation of the key points of the Sino–Brazilian peace plan.

Volunteers fill sandbags during the flood of 1954.

Floods Past and Present: Budapest and the Country Come Together when Under Water

The 1838 flood, commemorated by many memorial plaques and water level signs in the centre of the city, was not only a natural disaster but a tragedy that brought the country together. The heroism of Baron Miklós Wesselényi (1796–1850) for instance is kept in high regard to this day. The young baron gained national recognition for rowing around the flooded city rescuing people. His boat was equally open to the poor and the rich survivors of the flood; many were pulled from the water, others were save from rooftops.

BMW to Construct Hungary’s Largest Solar Power Plant in Debrecen

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, BMW is building a solar power plant in Debrecen, Hungary, spanning an area equivalent to 71 football fields. It will be the largest within the BMW Group, and the largest industrial solar power plant in Hungary. further affirming Hungary’s position as a global leader in the green economy.

EU Pro-War Foreign Ministers Take Aim at Hungary in Tense Foreign Council Meeting

The informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council took place amid heightened tensions in Brussels on 29 August. The mood was set by Josep Borrell’s decision to relocate the meeting from Budapest to the Belgian capital as a signal of disapproval of Viktor Orbán’s peace mission. Ahead of the meeting, pro-war ministers issued statements criticizing the Hungarian government, and the tense atmosphere carried over into the discussions in the meeting room.