Budapest

Hungary has accused Ukraine of blackmailing both itself and Slovakia by halting oil supplies, according to a statement from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's advisor, Gergely Gulyas. The accusations come in the wake of Ukraine's decision to impose sanctions on Russia's Lukoil, which has disrupted the oil transit through the country.

Hungary will block European Union refunds to member states that provided ammunition to Ukraine until Kyiv resumes the transit of oil from Russia's Lukoil through a pipeline across Ukrainian territory, Hungary's foreign minister announced on Tuesday.

This handout from the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) account of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban @PM_ViktorOrban posted on July 11, 2024 shows Orban (L) posing with former U.S. president Donald Trump at Trump's estate in Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida

Concern is growing in European capitals regarding the peacemaker role that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has assumed during his visits to Ukraine, Russia, and China. Diplomatic sources in Brussels reported this to Bulgarian media "Club Z".

Chinese President Xi Jinping told Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Monday that world powers should help Russia and Ukraine re-start direct negotiations during a visit to Beijing branded a "peace mission" by the European leader.

Hungary's Deputy Minister of the Interior, Bence Retvari, emphasized the significance of including Bulgaria and Romania in the Schengen Area by the end of 2024 during Hungary's Presidency of the Council of the EU. He expressed optimism for a timely decision on this matter but did not specify a precise timeline for the vote.

Holiday rental search engine Holidu has compiled a list ranking European cities based on their affordability for food and drink enthusiasts. Using cost-of-living data from Numbeo, Holidu has categorized cities by the average cost of items such as a bottle of wine and a mid-range meal for two, offering a comprehensive guide for foodies of varying budgets.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is set to visit Kyiv today, marking his first trip to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. His visit coincides with Hungary's upcoming EU rotating presidency. Orbán is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to the British publication The Guardian.

Hungary takes over the EU's rotating presidency on Monday, promising to be an "honest broker" despite widespread concerns over what critics see as an authoritarian, Russia-friendly government.

Hungary has dropped its opposition to Mark Rutte's candidacy for NATO secretary general after a meeting between Rutte and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during the EU leaders' council in Brussels, as reported by media outlets in the Netherlands, Agence France-Presse, and the Financial Times.