Bryan Lieb, who is in contention to become the next US Ambassador to Hungary, has met with a number of high-ranking figures in the Hungarian administration during his most recent visit to Budapest, including State Secretaries Tristan Azbej and Zoltán Kovács, as well as Minister Tibor Navracsics.
Senior US diplomat Robert Palladino will assume leadership of the US Embassy in Budapest as Chargé d’Affaires from 7 March. However, as stated in the embassy’s announcement, Palladino’s mandate is temporary, leaving the race open for the successor to former US Ambassador David Pressman—who will face the enormous task of repairing US–Hungary relations, which were severely damaged by Joe Biden’s envoy.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry’s plane was denied landing in Sarajevo following a decision by Bosnian Defence Minister Zukan Helez. Helez cited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s continued support for Milorad Dodik, leader of Republika Srpska. Dodik was sentenced to one year in prison last week on politically motivated grounds.
US President Donald Trump has moved to halt all military aid to Ukraine following a heated clash with his Ukrainian counterpart in the Oval Office on Friday. The decision comes as European leaders prepare to meet on Thursday to determine the EU’s strategy, with an overwhelming majority favouring continued military support over peace negotiations.
Hungary maintains regular dialogue with the US administration as it advocates for peace in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated, while warning of irreconcilable differences within the EU regarding the continuation of the war.
Hungary’s former Minister of Finance Mihály Varga was officially sworn in as the new Governor of the Hungarian National Bank on Monday, pledging to serve the interests of the nation during his six-year term starting this week.
The Brutalist, the film about a Jewish Hungarian artist who flees to the US from the Holocaust, did not win Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars, as most Hungarian people most likely would have liked to see. Instead, Anora, a film about a Russian American stripper was awarded in the category. However, Adrien Brody playing the Hungarian protagonist in The Brutalist won the Best Actor award.
‘Although Hamas claimed that Ariel and Kfir were killed in an Israeli airstrike, the IDF revealed that the two little boys did not die of malnutrition and were apparently murdered. Ben Shapiro highlighted in his opinion article: “Hamas mutilated the bodies to make it look as though they were not, in fact, beaten or strangled to death. Remember, they were taken by Gazan civilians.”’
Ahead of the upcoming EU summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has called on Brussels to abandon military escalation in Ukraine and instead initiate peace negotiations, advocating a diplomatic strategy inspired by US President Donald Trump.
Hungary has initiated an extensive inquiry into the financial activities of the United States Agency for International Development, aiming to reveal the recipients of its funds within the country and to dismantle what officials describe as a deeply embedded international corruption network.
‘Hungarian Minister for National Economy Márton Nagy recently visited Bulgaria and met with President Rumen Radev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications Grozdan Karadjov, Minister of Economy and Industry Peter Dilov, and Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh. The meeting marks a significant step forward in bilateral relations.’
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine travelled to Washington, DC to sign the agreement that would create a co-owned fund between the US and Ukraine that would manage Ukraine’s rare earth minerals. However, the meeting came to a premature end, as President Trump asked Zelenskyy to leave after a tense discussion in front of the media, cancelling their scheduled lunch and joint press conference.
At the Peace Through Strength conferences hosted by the Center for Fundamental Rights in Budapest, the distinguished guests discussed the new geopolitical realities brought on by the second Trump administration. They have put a special emphasis on the Hamas–Israeli war, and the attacks on the religious freedom of Jews and Christians alike around the world.
Hungary’s Opening to the East strategy has been one of the country’s most significant economic achievements over the past 15 years, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. Speaking in Budapest, he stressed that Hungary rejects an economic cold war and has greatly benefited from East–West cooperation.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has outlined his government’s ambitious plan to restructure Hungary’s tax system with families at its core. In a radio interview, he reaffirmed his commitment to boosting birth rates through tax benefits while pledging decisive action against inflation. He also addressed international affairs, domestic security, and social policies, including measures against drug trafficking and gender ideology in schools.
The Danube Institute hosted an event dedicated to free speech in the UK and Brexit titled ‘Renewing UK Politics: Conservative Challenges and the Road to Prosperity’. The panel featured Senior Researcher Guy Dampier and Managing Director Dr Radomir Tylecote from the London-based conservative think tank Prosperity Institute, as well as Visiting Fellow Doug Stokes from the Danube Institute.
In a groundbreaking medical development, Hungary has successfully administered its first CAR-T cell therapy to two children with leukaemia at the South-Pest Hospital Centre. This cutting-edge immunotherapy, which genetically modifies a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer, marks a significant step forward in paediatric oncology.
US President Donald Trump has expressed approval of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s possible visit to Washington on Friday to sign a US–Ukraine economic partnership agreement. Calling it a ‘major deal’, Trump emphasized its significance, particularly regarding rare minerals and broader economic cooperation.
Multiple news outlets were able to demonstrate that, as of late February 2025, if a user said the word ‘racist’ to Apple’s voice note feature, it often first transcribed it as ‘Trump’ before correcting itself to the actual word. Apple has responded to the controversy, saying they are aware of the issue and fixing the bug.
Just an hour ago, independent candidate Călin Georgescu, who had won the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, which was subsequently suspended by the Romanian Constitutional Court without any evidence, was arrested without prior notice.
Hungary is set to become the first country in the world to implement a nationwide e-receipt system, a move expected to enhance fair competition, simplify administration for businesses, and strengthen consumer protection. The initiative is already attracting international interest.
Hungary remains committed to its strict migration policy, which enjoys broad public support, according to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief security adviser György Bakondi. Speaking on national television, he stressed that Hungary prioritizes national security and aims to influence European migration policies.
‘…an attempt to invest into alternative suppliers…can be understood as an effort to diversify supply chains amid rising competition between Washington and Beijing. The United State’s quest to secure its supply of critical minerals is especially timely given the fact that a couple of months ago, in December 2024 China imposed restrictions on the export of several minerals and metals to the US.’
Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has given a speech at the United Nations’ Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland. In it, he pointed out that Hungary has been saying for the last three years that only a Russian–American agreement can bring peace to Europe again, which is exactly what is happening now; and called on ‘pro-war leaders’ of the world not to obstruct the peace talks with Moscow.
The refurbishment of Budapest’s Metro Line 3 included a complete reconstruction of its train carriages by a Russian partner, BKV confirmed. Although the project was initially described as a renovation, the trains’ structures were entirely rebuilt due to their poor condition.
Washington and Kyiv have finally come to an agreement on the joint extraction of critical resources, including rare earth minerals from Ukraine’s reserves. While the exact terms of the deal remain unknown, it could represent a significant step towards reducing American dependence on Chinese imports of the most essential resources of the future.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that Russia is ready to cooperate with American companies regarding the country’s vast reserves of rare earth metals and minerals. The move weakened Ukraine’s negotiating position, as a similar deal is reportedly in the making between Washington and Kyiv, with only the final details left to be finalized.
Hungarian researchers have developed new space weather data products to enhance the accuracy of forecasting solar-driven phenomena that impact satellites and Earth-based technology. The innovation, led by the HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science, will help mitigate risks posed by extreme space weather events.
Bryan Leib has praised Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary’s newly announced policy of giving income tax exemptions to mothers of two or more children. He has also suggested that the United States should implement a similar policy and even tagged Elon Musk in his reply.
Liverpool, with Hungary National Team Captain Dominik Szoboszlai in their starting line-up, beat defending champions Manchester City 2–0 away from home, thus increasing their lead on the table to 11 points over Arsenal. Szoboszlai, who scored a goal and gave an assist in the crucial game, is getting closer to becoming the first Hungarian player to win the English Premier League trophy.