About: Viktor Orbán
Russia moves on key city of Severodonetsk, US ‘still committed’ to send rocket systems
Russian troops were approaching the strategic city of Severodonetsk on Friday (27 May) in a relentless offensive to control Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, as the war triggered a historic schism between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its Russian patriarchate. Pro-Russian...
EU realistically in for the long-haul on Russian oil ban
Hungary is digging in its heels, and the prospect of the sixth sanction package against Russia, including a ban on imports of Russian oil, being approved before the EU summit on Monday (30 May) is decreasing, EURACTIV understands.
Zelenskyy loses patience with EU divisions over new Russia sanctions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday (26 May) denounced divisions inside the European Union over more sanctions against Russia and asked why some nations were being allowed to block the plan.
Hungary’s Orban turns again to windfall taxes on banks, companies to plug budget
Hungary's government will impose windfall taxes on banks and large private companies' "extra profits" in a bid to rein in a swelling budget deficit, turning again to a policy that has helped Viktor Orban avoid raising taxes for families.
EU cracks over Ukraine widen ahead of summit as Italy, Hungary urge truce
Italy and Hungary have urged the EU to call for a ceasefire in Ukraine and peace talks with Russia, putting themselves at odds with other member states determined to take a hard line with Moscow ahead of next week's summit.
Donbas fighting rages as Russia eyes prolonged war in Ukraine
Russia signalled on Tuesday (24 May) it was bedding in for a long war in Ukraine as the conflict entered its fourth month with heavy fighting in the east but signs of some normality returning elsewhere.
No Russia oil embargo discussion at EU summit, says Hungary’s Orbán
Hungary will not drop its opposition to an EU embargo on Russian oil any time soon, and so EU leaders should not discuss the issue at next week’s summit in Brussels, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told European Council President Charles...
EU reputation at stake as Hungary continues to block Russia sanctions
The EU has not found consensus on the new sanction package against Russia and an agreement could be still 'a week or two' away, EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell said on 17 May, as Hungary said it would not lift its veto.
EU ministers urge Hungary to sign up to planned Russian oil embargo
EU foreign ministers sought to publicly pressure Hungary on Monday (16 May) to lift its veto on a proposed oil embargo on Russia, with Lithuania saying the bloc was being "held hostage by one member state".
EU tweaks Russia oil sanctions plan in bid to win over reluctant states
The European Commission has proposed changes to its planned embargo on Russian oil to give Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic more time to prepare for the shift in their energy supplies, three EU sources said on Friday (6 May).
Pope wants to visit Moscow to meet Putin over Ukraine
Pope Francis said in an interview published on Tuesday (3 May) that he asked for a meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to stop the war in Ukraine but had not received a reply.
ANALYSIS-Win or lose, Le Pen’s nationalism is already changing Europe
‘Frexit’ may be off the menu offered by Marine Le Pen ahead of Sunday’s crucial presidential run-off against incumbent Emmanuel Macron but the threat of a seismic shift to France’s position in Europe looms large ahead of polling day.
Orban’s victory puts Hungary on collision course with EU
Emboldened by a fourth consecutive landslide election victory, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is expected to dig in against energy sanctions on Russia and toughen his stance in talks with Brussels to unlock frozen EU funds.
EU summit marked by Zelenskyy shaming Hungary’s Orban
EU leaders gathered in Brussels on Thursday (24 March) making no major decisions, the summit being marked by the presence of US President Joe Biden and by a sharp video message by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. EU leaders repeated their...
NATO to discuss reinforcements in Southeastern Europe
As NATO defence ministers meet in Brussels this week amid US warnings of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, they are set to come up with a detailed plan for four new battle groups in southeastern Europe. The plan could...
Poland, Hungary turning more authoritarian, rights group says
Hungary and Poland are turning increasingly authoritarian, a European rights group said on Tuesday (15 January), a day before the European Union's top court rules on whether to cut funding to member states flouting democratic rights and freedoms.
Hungary’s Orban kicks off re-election campaign
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Saturday (12 February) kicked off his re-election campaign, touting his government's work and warning of an influx of refugees from Ukraine if war breaks out.
In Moscow, Orbán offers ‘Hungarian model’, blasts idea of sanctions
Amid simmering tensions between the West and Russia, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blasted the ineffectiveness of the EU's punitive sanctions on Moscow and hailed his successful relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin to host EU ally Orban amid Ukraine crisis
Russian President Vladimir Putin will host talks Tuesday (1 February) with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has taken a softer line on the Ukraine crisis than NATO and the EU, with Hungary a member of both.
Price controls enter the European inflation debate
As inflation remains high, politicians and economists turn to other measures to contain prices, and age-old discussions around price controls are flaring up again, with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán putting them into practice.
Commission doesn’t budge as lawmakers push to investigate enlargement chief over Bosnia
Following a letter from thirty EU lawmakers, the European Commission appeared to stand by its embattled enlargement chief on Thursday (13 January) and the statements issued after allegations were made in December that he had indirectly contributed to secessionist moves of Bosnian Serbs.
Macron takes EU reins as election looms
France takes over the rotating presidency of the European Union on Saturday (1 January), affording President Emmanuel Macron the chance to pose as the EU's de facto leader in the run-up to national elections in April.
Internal issues aside, Slovenia’s EU presidency a ‘success’
During its six-month EU presidency, Slovenia successfully led the process of adopting European legislation, but that has been somewhat overshadowed by concerns from Brussels about the rule of law in the country, analysts say.