Prime Minister Viktor Orban

April 22, 2026 8:19 PM

EXPLAINER-How will the EU’s 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine work?

A 90 billion euro ($105 billion) EU loan for Ukraine, blocked by Hungary under outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, could be revived following Orban's defeat in an election this month and a resumption of Russian oil deliveries to Hungary over Ukraine. European Union leaders had decided last December to jointly borrow the money to lend to Ukraine to fund its defence against Russia for this year and next, using frozen Russian funds as a potential backstop to ensure that Moscow ultimately pays. ...

April 8, 2026 12:43 PM

Vance says EU is meddling in Hungary’s election as he backs Orban in Budapest

U.S. Vice President JD Vance lashed out on Tuesday at what he called "disgraceful" European Union interference in Hungary's election, even as he openly endorsed Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a close ally of both President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, days before the vote. Vance's visit to Budapest came ahead of Sunday's election, which independent public opinion polls show Orban is likely to lose. The trip - and the rare endorsement by a sitting U.S. official - underscored ...

February 26, 2026 4:41 PM

What is the Druzhba oil pipeline and why has it held up EU sanctions on Russia?

The stoppage of the last Russian oil flows to Europe, via the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline, has triggered a geopolitical clash that has blocked new EU sanctions on Russia and vital funding for Ukraine. WHAT IS DRUZHBA? Druzhba, which translates as "friendship" in English, is a pipeline that carries crude oil from Russia to Eastern Europe, via Ukraine. The Soviet-era link was one of the most important Russian oil arteries, delivering crude from West Siberia to the industrial heartland in Europe...