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Rubio contradicts Orbán’s claim of unlimited sanctions waiver
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the waiver granted to Hungary on importing Russian oil and gas would last for one year. His remarks aligned with earlier reporting by CNN, The Guardian, the BBC, and Reuters, which cited a White House official saying Donald Trump had approved a one-year exemption. This stands in stark contrast to the Hungarian government’s position: Viktor Orbán previously told ATV’s Egon Rónai that Hungary had secured an exemption of unlimited duration.
Gergely Gulyás, the minister leading the Prime Minister’s Office, said the timeline had not been discussed during the Washington meetings. He acknowledged that information “may be coming now from the US State Department,” but maintained that Orbán and Trump had agreed to a waiver without any time limit. Gulyás added that the two governments would clarify the details through official channels, with foreign minister Péter Szijjártó expected to contact Rubio. While unable to specify when the agreement would be formally signed, he said the government expected this to occur before the sanctions come into force.
Following his meeting with Trump, Orbán announced that Hungary would receive a full exemption from US sanctions related to Russian oil and gas. He also said Hungary would purchase nuclear fuel from the US, clearing the way for the introduction of small American modular reactors. US sanctions linked to the construction of the Paks II nuclear plant would be lifted, although no progress had been made on restoring the double taxation agreement.
Kremlin spokesperson: Kremlin has no information on Orbán’s proposed Ukraine peace plan
Despite Viktor Orbán’s suggestion in Washington that Hungary has ideas for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Kremlin says it has no knowledge of any such proposals. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, said Moscow has not been informed of Orbán’s initiatives and has not had the opportunity to examine them. Orbán’s remarks came during his meeting with US President Donald Trump, where he said Hungary had suggestions on how to bring Russia to the negotiating table. He also argued that European governments are mistaken in believing military support for Ukraine will help Kyiv win the war.
During the meeting, Orbán reiterated the Kremlin’s line that European governments are “pro-war” because they assume Ukraine can achieve a battlefield victory.. Orbán praised Trump’s “valuable peace efforts” and said Hungary would support them as much as it could. The conversation closed with Orbán noting that if Trump meets Putin again, he would like that meeting to take place in Budapest.
Ziobro does not want to return home from Budapest for questioning
Former Polish justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro, who has been in Budapest for weeks now, does not want to return to Poland for questioning. The former Polish justice minister, who is suspected of abuses related to the Justice Fund, including the illegal acquisition of Pegasus spyware used against opposition figures and journalists. Ziobro has therefore offered the Warsaw prosecutor's office to appear for questioning in Brussels or Budapest, according to Gazeta Wyborcza.
"We suggested that Zbigniew Ziobro be questioned at the consulate or through international assistance, as such proceedings can be conducted remotely. The minister can appear at the agreed time and place, as Poland has not been his permanent residence for a long time," Ziobro's lawyer told Rzeczpospolita.
The politician is suspected of having "established and led an organized criminal group" while serving as justice minister during the Law and Justice (PiS) party-led government. The organization is suspected of having embezzled more than 150 million zlotys. If found guilty, he could face up to 25 years in prison.
Ziobro is suspected of embezzling funds from the Justice Fund, which was set up to assist victims and prevent crime.
His deputy, Marcin Romanowski, is also living in the Hungarian capital under political asylum. Romanowski was also charged with embezzlement of state assets in connection with the Justice Fund case, but he fled to Hungary before an arrest warrant was issued against him.