The prolongation of the war in Ukraine and the challenges to Russia’s military strength may lead to more armed conflicts all over the post-Soviet sphere, as countries in the region try to capitalise on Russia’s weakness.

Autocracy is not only about a set of institutions—it is also about how people live their lives in a political sytem. As opposed to what the misguided vote in the European Parliament that classified Hungary as an ‘autocracy’ insinuates, Hungarians live freely, which is a testimony to the fact that Hungary is a democracy.

Although Putin was the first world leader Xi Jinping met with outside China since the outbreak of the pandemic, Beijing is probably more interested in a West divided over Ukraine than in Russia itself.

Russia is turning to Iran and North Korea due to Western sanctions preventing its access to cutting-edge technology. Rapprochement between these countries, however, does certainly not serve the interest of the West.

The mural of hugging Russian and Ukrainian soldiers was removed upon the uproar of the Ukrainian community. Given rising dissent in the Russian army, however, there is a case to be made that the mural was appropriate.

Moscow sees the UK’s new prime minister as hostile and incompetent as a result of her Russia-related gaffes and warmongering rhetoric.

On 30 August, Navalny was sent to solitary confinement for the third time in two weeks in the penal colony where he is serving a nine-year term.

Russia has introduced new compulsory ’patriotic rituals’ that all school children are required to perform in schools. The new patriotic lessons include discussions of the ‘special military operation’ in Ukraine and the ‘NATO threat’.

The UK economy is under great pressure from the sanctions imposed on Russia. Energy prices have soared, and inflation is sky high. putting a strain on the population’s wellbeing. Meanwhile. the government keeps funding Ukraine.

While joint US-Korean military drills were scaled down in the last couple of years, now they have returned in their past size as tens of thousands of soldiers train for a potential invasion of South Korea until 1 September. The drills are a show of force not only to Pyongyang, but to Beijing, too.

Since the beginning of the tragic war in Ukraine, many have embraced the idea that Russians have collective responsibility for the current events. However, it is crucial to recognise that the notion of collective guilt should not be used to demonise or incite hatred against ordinary Russians.

On Monday morning the first ship carrying 26,000 tonnes of corn left the South Ukrainian port of Odesa. The departure of the ship offers a ray of hope that the food crisis may be addressed soon under the new deal between Moscow and Kyiv.

Since February, countless reports have been published about Putin’s health. Claims about his cancer, Parkinson’s disease and innumerable other alleged illnesses abound; however, his worsening looks could simply be the result of aging, with Putin turning 70 soon.

19 June is a reminder of the hard-earned freedom and independence of Hungary – between 19 March 1944 and 19 June 1991, for 47 long years, Hungary was occupied for foreign powers.

While Brussels hopes that breaking free from Russian energy will encourage a green turn in Europe, the chances of a green transition in Central Europe are in fact very low.

Refugees can now access social welfare and medical assistance, while Ukrainian children have the right to attend education and day care in Hungary.

According to Douglas Murray, the rise of identity politics and wokism in the West shows that Europe has forgotten about what ‘communism’ means – so those who had lived under oppressive totalitarian regimes should gently remind the West of the dangers of communist sentiments.