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Donald Trump praises Hungarian PM in his nomination acceptance speech
Former President Donald Trump has quoted Hungary's far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in his acceptance speech. Orban, seen as Russia's closest ally in the EU endorsed Trump multiple times - AP reports.
“Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, very tough guy,” Trump remarked. He noted that Orbán, a frequent visitor to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida—including a visit just last week following a highly controversial meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump quoted Orbán: “There’s only one way you can solve it. You’ve got to bring President Trump back.”
According to the former US president, the Hungarian PM also said, “Russia was afraid of him. China was afraid of him. The whole world was at peace.”
Zelensky criticizes Orban's peace mission
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized Orbán’s “peace mission,” during which the Hungarian leader traveled to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Mar-a-Lago. Speaking to leaders of the European Political Community, the Ukrainian leader said: “If someone in Europe tries to resolve issues behind others’ backs or at the expense of someone else, if someone wants to make some trips to the capital of war, to talk and perhaps promise something against our common interests or at the expense of Ukraine or other countries, then why should we consider such a person?”
Orbán’s diplomatic efforts have drawn criticism from other European leaders as well. In a private letter, Orbán had urged European leaders to reopen diplomatic relations with Russia earlier this month, suggesting that former US president Donald Trump had "plans for peace talks" between Russia and Ukraine. European Council President Charles Michel responded, saying Orbán had no authority to represent the EU. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said that Orbán’s initiative “helps Vladimir Putin in this situation. And it’s wrong.” A resolution passed by the European Parliament condemned Orbán, stating that he “blatantly violated the EU's founding treaties and common foreign policy” with his visit to Moscow to meet Putin.
Hungarian state media will publish Azeri propaganda daily
The State News Agency of Azerbaijan and Duna Media Service have signed an agreement. According to the agreement, they will send each other news daily, i.e. news from the Azertac news agency will appear daily on MTV, Duna, Hungarian Radio, and MTI.
According to Népszava, the agreement was signed by Róbert Kárász, a former TV presenter who is currently serving as the creative director of Duna Media Service Provider. Kárász is responsible for content development, and this time he represented Hungary at a media forum in Azerbaijan. The forum was held in the recently recaptured town of Susa in the former Nagorno-Karabakh, which Orban visited a few weeks ago.
MTI was invited to a meeting of the Association of Turkish News Agencies. Azerbaijan has also signed similar news exchange agreements with news agencies in Pakistan, Algeria, and Senegal.
Orban's political director congratulates JD Vance on X
Balázs Orbán (no relation to the PM ), Viktor Orbán's political director, has praised the selection of J.D. Vance as Donald Trump’s vice-presidential candidate. Orbán shared a photo on X of himself with Vance: “A Trump-Vance administration sounds just right. Congratulations to J.D. Vance on being appointed by Donald Trump as his running mate!” Vance has been an outspoken admirer of the Hungarian government’s policies in recent years, a point celebrated by Hungary’s pro-government press following his nomination.
In an interview with CBS, Vance addressed Orbán’s ties with China and Russia, saying: “But I have to reject the premise here because why is Viktor Orban getting closer to China? In part because American leadership is not making smart decisions. We are pushing other nations into the arms of the Chinese because we don't make enough stuff because we pursue a ridiculous foreign policy very often.”