‘Therefore, two Antemurale myths are currently clashing in Europe: one geopolitical and ideological, in which Ukraine is seen as the last bulwark of European civilization; the other cultural and demographic, with Hungary positioning itself as the defender of traditional Western values and Christianity.’
The war in Ukraine is tragic—but it is not Hungary’s war. That was the central message of Balázs Orbán’s interview on CNN, where he criticized the EU for sacrificing stability in pursuit of what he described as an unwinnable proxy. He warned against deeper entanglement in a war that risks becoming Europe’s own—particularly if Ukraine is prematurely admitted into the EU.
Donald Trump seems to have lost patience with Vladimir Putin regarding peace talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, as the US president has shifted his tone and promised increased weapon shipments to Kyiv. It increasingly appears that Trump has been unable to bring peace to Ukraine, just as Volodymyr Zelenskyy failed to deliver on the same campaign promise during his early days as president.
Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed strong EU support for Ukraine’s war effort and reconstruction, prompting criticism from Hungary’s political director, who accused Hungarian opposition parties of backing foreign interests over national ones.
Ukraine’s decision to strip the leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of his citizenship sends a disturbing message to Orthodox communities living in the EU, where Kyiv seeks to join.
In the latest sign of deteriorating relations, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Hungarian Ambassador to Kyiv Antal Hejzer in response to an advertising campaign portraying Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar as the ‘Hungarian Zelenskyy’. Ukraine’s EU accession is increasingly becoming a central topic in the electoral campaign for Hungary’s 2026 parliamentary election.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán voiced strong opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession, warning it would cripple Hungary’s economy. In a radio interview, he criticized Brussels’ pressure and emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting Hungarian interests.
Taking over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, Denmark has promised to exert maximum pressure on Hungary to lift its veto on Ukraine’s EU accession. However, looking back over recent years, there have been several similar threats against Viktor Orbán’s government, and Copenhagen does not have anything new to bring to the table either.
Russia’s capture of Shevchenko—site of a key lithium deposit—is alarming investors over the future of a US–Ukraine critical minerals deal. With further Russian advances, Donald Trump may face a tough choice: ramp up pressure on Moscow or risk the deal’s collapse.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Hungary Sándor Fegyir discussed the current state and future prospects of Ukrainian–Hungarian relations in an interview with Index, stating that political communication has flaws on both sides, but that ‘it is never too late to apologize to each other.’