Hungary’s National Assembly adopted a resolution opposing Ukraine’s EU accession and further EU war aid, arguing that admitting a country at war would draw the bloc into the conflict. The document also calls on the government to support peace efforts and prevent EU funds intended for Hungary from being redirected to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced that Hungary will introduce protected fuel prices for petrol and diesel starting at midnight, limiting retail prices in an effort to shield households and businesses from rising energy costs.

The Budapest Balkans Forum, hosted by HIIA, marked its 10th anniversary at the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, bringing together regional leaders such as Foreign Ministers Péter Szijjártó of Hungary and Timcho Mucunski of North Macedonia to discuss EU enlargement and energy security. Speakers emphasized a merit-based accession process for Western Balkan countries and highlighted the region’s growing strategic importance.

Hungary has evacuated 989 people, including 892 Hungarian citizens, from the Middle East through government-organized flights, according to Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. Additional evacuation flights may be launched this week if demand continues.

A video from Manchester showing Iranian Islamist horsemen chasing anti-Khamenei protesters during rival demonstrations following the death of the ayatollah has generated massive attention online, especially after police appeared to let them leave without making any arrests. The incident has fuelled criticism of what many see as an increasingly weak response by British authorities to Islamist intimidation.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has urged the European Union to suspend sanctions on Russian energy amid soaring prices triggered by the war in the Middle East. Orbán warned that Europe’s current vulnerability is the direct result of ideology-driven policies that replaced cheap Russian pipeline gas with dependence on volatile global LNG markets.