The Hungarian government, widely regarded as the most Russia-friendly in the EU, has repeatedly obstructed EU sanctions against Moscow and delayed military aid to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed conditional support for a ceasefire in Ukraine but stopped short of making definitive commitments, leaving key issues unresolved.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, warned that a ceasefire in the Russo-Ukrainian war would be meaningless without security guarantees for Kyiv.
"Our cooperation as two strong Nato partners has taken on a new significance today," he says.
Bankova opened the bidding in the peace talks by calling for a 30-day ceasefire and withdrawing from Russia’s Kursk region as an act of “good faith”. But both sides have adopted harder lines with little common ground as starting positions.
Brussels is preparing for the possibility that Hungary may block the renewal of European Union sanctions against Russia, a move that could unfreeze tens of billions of euros in assets and undermine Ukraine's financial aid structure.
Trip also provides support to president Erdogan as he bids to make Turkish armed forces and defence industry prominent in Europe's plan to rearm and strengthen security architecture.
The war in Ukraine appears to be drawing to a close and Central and Eastern Europe's infrastructure capabilities – or lack thereof – will soon be thrust into the global spotlight.
Oil deliveries to Hungary via the Druzhba pipeline have had to be suspended temporarily on March 11 due to a Ukrainian drone strike on one of the pipeline’s measuring stations.
Mark Rutte said to have privately urged bloc leaders to step up engagement with Turkish leader Erdogan. Ankara keen for role in beefed up European defence format.
Authorities in Russia’s Kursk region have proposed the establishment of a museum in Sudzha dedicated to the “Ukrainian occupation” of the city, which has been under Kyiv’s control for seven months since August 2024.
At talks in Jeddah, Ukrainian officials say Kyiv is willing to suspend military operations, provided Moscow adheres to the terms.
Donald Trump has privately informed his aides that he does not intend to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, NBC News sources revealed ahead of Jeddah summit.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the admission of Ukraine to the EU would destabilise Europe's economy and its financial stability.
Ukraine’s position in Kursk deteriorated rapidly as Russian forces recaptured territory in a counteroffensive that has nearly split the Ukrainian contingent in two and severed key supply lines.
Even in war-torn Ukraine, two-thirds of women are considering starting a business as they continue to play a critical role in the wartime economy, says new MasterCard research.
Poland’s Donald Tusk, meanwhile, speaks of diplomatic offensive to find new security format in Europe that would include involving Turkish forces in a closer role.
Tehran's interim Friday prayer leader said that Trump's treatment of President Zelenskiy demonstrated the humiliating fate that awaits those who submit to American influence.
Robert Fico had threatened to block the EU summit unless the conclusions contained a provision about the renewal of Russian gas transit through Ukraine.
EU leaders unanimously agree to ramp up defence spending at emergency summit, but Hungary refuses to endorse statement on support for Ukraine.