- Stay updated on the latest news from Hungary by signing up for the free InsightHungary newsletter.
Hungary’s President tried to avoid naming Russia in a post about the Mukachevo attack
Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok removed the word "Russian" from "Russian missile attack" in a post about Mukachevo, a town in Zakarpattia, which was hit for the first time since the start of Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion in Ukraine.
An hour after the original post appeared, President Sulyok amended the text about the attack in Mukachevo, where many ethnic Hungarians reside. The original statement expressed deep solidarity for the survivors of the Russian missile attack on Mukachevo and wished them a speedy recovery. The word “Russian” was deleted from this statement.
Due to the amendment, 444 contacted the Sándor Palace. They wrote that the text had been amended because "the office of the head of state was still awaiting official and detailed information and confirmation of the circumstances of the missile attack on Mukachevo, as well as the identities of those responsible and those who carried it out," but Sulyok considered it important to be among the first to express his sympathy.
According to the office, the "essence and true intention of the statement" was that Sulyok called on the participants to end the fighting. Later on in the day, Hungarian PM Viktor Orban made a public statement about the Russian missile attack.
Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister to Szijjarto: Send your threats to your friends in Moscow
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Kyiv of attacking oil infrastructure supplying Hungary. Writing on X, Szijjártó said oil deliveries had been halted following what he described as an “outrageous and unacceptable” strike on a pipeline, and urged Ukrainians not to target routes crucial to Hungary’s energy security. He also noted that electricity from Hungary plays a key role in powering Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha swiftly pushed back. In a post on X, he clarified that Russia was responsible for the war and its consequences. “Peter, it is Russia, not Ukraine, that began this war and refuses to end it. Hungary has been told for years that Moscow is an unreliable partner. Despite this, Hungary has made every effort to maintain its reliance on Russia. Even after the full-scale war began. You can now send your complaints—and threats—to your friends in Moscow.”
The dispute followed disruptions to oil shipments, which prompted questions to Hungary’s energy giant Mol. In response, company spokesperson Ambrus Halász said technical repairs were underway and that crude oil deliveries would resume. He stressed that “the security of the regional supplies remains guaranteed.”
Putin-Zelenskiy meeting could happen in Hungary, U.S. official says
U.S. President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday that the United States would help guarantee Ukraine's security in any deal to end Russia's war, Reuters reports. The extent of that assistance was not immediately clear. The discussions took place during a summit at the White House, which included European allies, following Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Trump said, "When it comes to security, there's going to be a lot of help," adding, "They are a first line of defence because they're there, but we'll help them out." Zelenskiy called the promise "a major step forward," noting that the guarantees would be "formalized on paper within the next week to 10 days."
Both leaders expressed hope that Monday’s gathering would eventually lead to direct talks with Putin. Trump said he had called the Russian leader and begun arranging a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy, to be followed by a trilateral summit among the three presidents. While the Kremlin has not publicly announced its agreement, a senior U.S. administration official said the Putin-Zelenskiy meeting could take place in Hungary. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz added that the pair will meet within the next two weeks. The last direct talks between Russia and Ukraine occurred in Turkey in June, where Putin sent a low-level delegation instead of meeting Zelenskiy face-to-face.
Szijjártó denies Trump called Orbán after talks with European leaders
Szijjártó denies that Trump had called Viktor Orbán after his meeting with European leaders on Monday. Speaking on the pro-government podcast, Szijjártó said, “I would like to make it clear that there was no such phone call,” criticizing Bloomberg for inaccurate reporting. He accused international outlets of publishing “a transcript” of a call that never took place, while stressing that major news agencies “tend to portray themselves as having high moral standards.” Bloomberg had reported on Tuesday, citing its sources, that Trump phoned Orbán after his talks with Zelensky and European leaders in Washington.
Szijjártó also addressed speculation about Hungary’s role in peace efforts, saying it was realistic for Budapest to be considered as a possible venue for a future meeting between Putin and Zelensky. “If needed, we are here and would provide the appropriate secure conditions for peace talks at any time. We would be happy to contribute to the success of the peace efforts," he said. The minister argued that Hungary is currently the only Western country capable of maintaining a “fair, mutually respectful” relationship with both Russia and the United States.