Hungary
In Ukraine, Some Ethnic Hungarians Feel Ambivalence About the War
TRANSCARPATHIA, Ukraine — Beneath dark clouds unleashing a summer rain, officials in a southwestern Ukrainian border village gathered silently, slowly hanging wreaths on branches to commemorate the destruction of a nation. The wreaths were not decorated with the yellow and blue of the Ukrainian flag; they were laced, instead, with the red, white and green […]
Know More
Hooked on Cheap Oil, Hungary Resists an Embargo on Russia
BUDAPEST — Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary has fiercely resisted a proposed European embargo of Russian oil, saying it would devastate his country’s economy. Other potential casualties of such a ban would be things close to his heart: his populist campaign promises, and a financial gravy train for culture warriors in Europe and in […]
Know More
Europe Is About to Ban Russian Oil: What Happens Next?
Russia’s decades-long dominance of Europe’s energy market is crumbling, and the biggest blow is expected this week as the European Union moves toward a ban on Russian oil. On Wednesday, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed a complete import ban on Russian oil with crude phased out over six months and refined […]
Know More
With Ukraine Invasion, Hungary’s Leader Softens His Embrace of Russia
DEBRECEN, Hungary — The towering memorial, erected on the battlefield where the Russian imperial army routed Hungarian troops, mourns Russia’s 1849 victory over “brave homeland defenders.” It is a reminder of how, for centuries, the Hungarian psyche has been shaped and scarred by the specter of Russian domination. “There has been a constant fear of […]
Know More
In Hungary, Viktor Orban Remakes an Election to His Liking
BUDAPEST — During the dark winter of the 2020 coronavirus wave, the Hungarian government set up a website so anxious residents could sign up for the news on the pandemic. For months, the system sent out updates about the virus, testing and where to get vaccinated. But last month, long after the vaccination drive had […]
Know More
NATO Countries Pour Weapons Into Ukraine, Risking Conflict With Russia
Sweden, not a member of NATO, announced that it would send Ukraine 5,000 antitank weapons, 5,000 helmets, 5,000 items of body armor and 135,000 field rations, plus about $52 million for the Ukrainian military. Finland, similarly, has said it will deliver 2,500 assault rifles and 150,000 rounds of ammunition for them, 1,500 antitank weapons and […]
Know More
Facing Tough Election, Orban Turns to Putin for Support
BUDAPEST — Facing a tough election in two months, Hungary’s far-right populist prime minister, Viktor Orban, last week opened the centerpiece of a new state-funded museum district celebrating his country’s role as an anchor of European culture and identity. A shrine in the newly opened “House of Music” honors Hungarian champions of democracy routed by […]
Know More
For Some of Ukraine’s Neighbors, ‘Defend Europe’ Has Another Meaning
WARSAW — As the United States ramped up warnings of a Russian attack, and as Western allies called for unity against aggression, the leaders of two NATO members bordering Ukraine headed for a gathering in Madrid over the weekend called “Defend Europe.” But instead of tackling the Russian threat to Europe’s eastern frontier, the meeting […]
Know More
Eastern Europe Tests New Forms of Media Censorship
BELGRADE, Serbia — When Covid-19 reached Eastern Europe in the spring of 2020, a Serbian journalist reported a severe shortage of masks and other protective equipment. She was swiftly arrested, thrown in a windowless cell and charged with inciting panic. The journalist, Ana Lalic, was quickly released and even got a public apology from the […]
Know More