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Martin Dvorak criticizes Orban and Fico in new interview
Europe needs to be united against Russia, and any European politician who pursues a policy of dissent against Vladimir Putin will disrupt this unity, Czech President Petr Pavel said in an interview on public television on Monday. He spoke about the meeting between Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
"If any European politician opens towards Russia, they will violate the united approach, which is not in our favor. If we are united, we can succeed in our competition with Russia. But if Russia divides us, it has a great chance at succeeding" added Pavel.
"Czech foreign policy is going in the opposite direction, not towards Russia, which is why we have taken a series of measures over the last two years to become energy independent and to buy gas from more reliable partners," wrote Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
444 quoted an interview with Martin Dvorak, Minister for European Affairs, on the topic. He said that it is probably no coincidence that only two EU members—Orban and Fico—have visited Putin in Moscow recently. "Fico and Orbán are undermining EU unity, and the selfish behavior of individual states will not benefit either country, "Dvorak told Denik.
Body of missing Hungarian woman found in Manchester
British police have launched a murder investigation after the body of a missing Hungarian woman was found in Manchester, The Guardian reports. Authorities have arrested a 61-year-old man in connection with the case.
The 55-year-old woman, named Mariann, was last seen alive in Bolton on 14 December. Her body was found after 9 days. Although the body has not yet been officially identified, the woman's family has been informed by police. Helen Critchley, of Bolton police station, said the discovery of the body was a tragic development in the search. Police have expressed their condolences to the victim's family.
Polish foreign ministry summons Hungarian ambassador over asylum granted to ex-deputy minister
The Hungarian ambassador to Warsaw was summoned following Hungary's decision to grant political asylum to Marcin Romanowski, a former Polish deputy justice minister accused of corruption.
The Polish Foreign Ministry announced on Friday, as reported by MTI, that it considers Hungary's move a "hostile act" against the principles uniting Poland and other EU member states. In response, a formal protest will be delivered to the Hungarian ambassador in Warsaw, while Poland has also recalled its ambassador to Budapest, Sebastian Keciek.
The ministry’s website reiterated Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski's statement from Thursday evening, warning that Warsaw could escalate the matter to the European Commission if Hungary breached its EU commitments. Such action would invoke Article 259 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Hungary's far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hinted at granting asylum to a "Polish citizen" during a private event on 10 December, without revealing the individual’s identity. On Thursday, it emerged that the individual in question is Romanowski, a member of Poland’s opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party. Romanowski is facing 11 corruption charges in Poland.
Orbán: Making Europe great again is the only path to survival
After Thursday’s summit of EU leaders, António Costa confirmed the bloc’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, Telex reports. Speaking alongside Viktor Orbán at the closing press conference, the President of the European Council emphasized that only Ukraine has the authority to define the terms of peace and determine when conditions have been met. Costa stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine as long as necessary.
EU leaders have agreed on several concrete measures, including implementing the latest sanctions against Russia and exploring ways to enhance assistance to Ukraine. Costa described Russia’s aggression as a direct attack on international society and the rule of law. He reiterated the EU’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty. Reflecting on his first summit as chair, he thanked the heads of state and government for adhering to the schedule.
After the summit, Orban highlighted how he and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set aside political disagreements to address pressing issues. Reflecting on Hungary’s six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, Orbán described the period as marked by unprecedented security challenges, including war, migration, and the EU’s growing struggle to maintain competitiveness. "'Let's make Europe great again', is not a joke, it is the only path to survival," Orban said.
Acknowledging the lack of consensus within the EU on Ukraine, Orbán said this left him with limited scope for action. As a result, he focused on bilateral diplomacy rather than advancing the issue within the framework of the presidency.