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People walk past the new headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in Canary Wharf, London, Britain, September 14, 2023. REUTERS/Alishia Abodunde/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Move follows Hungary govt exit from Erste unitGovt raising financing for airport transactionExit 'good news' for sector's stability -EBRDBUDAPEST, Nov 15 (Reuters) - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is selling its 15% stake in Erste Group Bank's (ERST.VI) Hungarian unit back to the Austrian group after the Hungarian government's recent exit from the bank, a top EBRD official told Reuters. Austrian lender Erste said on Friday it was repurchasing a 15% stake in its Hungarian subsidiary, currently held by Hungarian state-owned Corvinus International Investments. Francis Malige, EBRD managing director of financial institutions, said the investment had been designed to help the Hungarian bank recapitalise while supporting a positive relationship with the authorities. "We received a call notice from Erste last Friday and are proceeding with the sale of our stake to the group, based on terms agreed during our 2016 investment."

Persons: Alishia, Viktor Orban, Marton Nagy, Francis Malige, Malige, Orban, Gergely Szakacs, Louise Heavens Organizations: European Bank for Reconstruction, REUTERS, Erste Group, Reuters, Economic, Budapest Airport, Austrian, Erste, International Investments, Erste Bank, Thomson Locations: Canary Wharf, London, Britain, Hungary, Erste, BUDAPEST, Austrian, Hungarian, Erste Bank Hungary

FELCSUT, Hungary (AP) — A European Championship qualifying game between Switzerland and Israel ended with a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, a match that brought the Israeli team to Hungary after all scheduled games in Tel Aviv were postponed due to the Israel-Hamas war. The match was one of two “home games” Israel is hosting in Felcsut, a Hungarian village of around 1,900 people, as it chases a qualifying place in the Euro 2024 continental championship. Ahead of the game, fans draped in Israeli flags gathered outside the heavily guarded stadium, singing chants as their team's bus arrived. As fears of antisemitic acts are on the rise across Europe, the security of the Israeli team was a decisive factor in bringing the rescheduled qualifying games to Hungary. After Wednesday's game, Israel remains in third place in Group I of Euro 2024 qualifying, behind Switzerland and Romania with 16 points each.

Persons: “, Aaron Morali, Viktor Orbán, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Rikardo, Israel’s Organizations: Israel, European, Arena, Israeli, Romania Locations: FELCSUT, Hungary, Switzerland, Israel, Tel Aviv, Felcsut, Hungarian, Vienna, Austria, Europe, “, Romania, Germany

☆ Opinion: Trump’s mental gaffes can’t be ignored
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Opinion Dean Obeidallah | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Longtime political analyst Larry Sabato was asked by CNN anchor Jim Acosta this weekend about former President Donald Trump’s increasingly frequent mental lapses. In response, Sabato told Acosta the truth: Trump’s supporters “don’t care” if he’s lost a step or two. They thought Bush because Bush supposedly was a military person — great.” He then added about Bush, “He got us into the Middle East. In that same speech, Trump also erred in telling the audience that Orban’s nation shared a border with Russia. Thank you very much.”The problem was that Trump was in Sioux City, Iowa — not in Sioux Falls, a city in South Dakota.

Persons: Dean Obeidallah, CNN —, Larry Sabato, Jim Acosta, Donald Trump’s, Barack Obama — alarmingly, Sabato, Acosta, “, he’s, Trump, ” Sabato, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Obama, ”, couldn’t, “ Hillary Clinton ’, Biden, Jeb Bush, George W, Bush, Viktor Orban, Viktor Orban —, He’s, ” Trump, Orban, Hungary, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Sen, Brad Zaun, Obama ”, — Obama, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, won’t, — Organizations: CNN, CNN — Longtime, White, Trump, Republican, “, South, GOP, Iowa Republican, Florida Gov, Democratic Locations: United States, South Carolina, Florida, Iraq, New Hampshire, Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Sioux, Sioux City , Iowa, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Iowa, Sioux City, Claremont , New Hampshire

☆ Donald Trump makes a new gaffe as rivals ratchet-up challenges to his mental sharpness
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Trump appeared to imply that Barack Obama was still president at a campaign event in New Hampshire. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The gaffe occurred during Trump's speech at a campaign event in Claremont, New Hampshire, on Saturday, as he seeks the Republican nomination ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In an October 2023 interview, he alleged that Orbán was asked what he would "advise President Obama," adding that the Hungarian leader wants Obama to "immediately resign." In line with campaigns to undermine 80-year-old Biden's credibility linked to his seniority and alleged mental decline, Trump's rivals are also challenging his mental capacities.

Persons: Trump, Barack Obama, spotlighting, —, Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, Obama, Ron DeStantis's, Nikki Haley, jabbed Trump, Haley, Joe Biden, Alex Brandon Biden's, Biden, Donald Trump's, MAGA, Steven Cheung, mumbling Organizations: Trump, Service, Hungarian, Washington Post, ABC, White, Florida Gov, Former UN, AP, Washington, Air Force Locations: New Hampshire, Claremont , New Hampshire, Hungarian, Turkey, Derry , New Hampshire, China, North Korea, United States

[1/2] A child casts a ballot on behalf of a voter at a polling station during Hungarian parliamentary elections in Veresegyhaz, Hungary April 3, 2022. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsARLINGTON, Virginia, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Private spy firm Black Cube was behind a hidden video campaign that used LinkedIn to target Hungarian activists and journalists leading to last year's election in the central European country, the professional networking site said on Thursday. A researcher for Microsoft-owned (MSFT.O) LinkedIn said Black Cube, based in Israel, created a network of fake personas that used bogus job postings to connect with their targets on the platform. Black Cube did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. The operation attributed to Black Cube by LinkedIn began in 2020 and targeted at least 12 activists and journalists who have been critical of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Persons: Leonhard Foeger, Mona Damian, Damian, Harvey Weinstein, Viktor Orban, Orban, Amnesty International Hungary Orsolya Jeney, Rohac, Raphael Satter, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Politico, Hungarian, Reuters, Amnesty International, American Enterprise Institute, Thomson Locations: Veresegyhaz, Hungary, Rights ARLINGTON , Virginia, Israel, Arlington , Virginia, Hungary's, Amnesty International Hungary, Washington

☆ Hungary's Orban says EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban looks on as he attends a European Union leaders summit in Brussels, Belgium October 27, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The EU must not start membership talks with Ukraine, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told state radio on Friday, stressing this was Hungary's "clear stance" on the issue. EU countries' leaders are due to decide in mid-December on whether to accept the Commission's recommendation to invite Kyiv to begin membership talks as soon as it meets final conditions. "Membership talks must not be started, this is the clear Hungarian stance," Orban said, adding that Brussels "owed Hungary money." Investors have been eyeing Budapest's talks with Brussels over the EU funds very closely.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Johanna Geron, Nationalist Orban, Orban, Budapest's, Krisztina, Jason Neely, Christina Fincher Organizations: European Union, REUTERS, Rights, EU, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, EU, Ukraine, Hungary, Budapest

But some worry the aid could be blocked by Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban who has touted his ties with Moscow and objected to similar support in the past. Asked for comment, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said that any financial aid to Ukraine should be separate from the EU budget. "The issue of money for Ukraine will be solved one way or another, Kyiv will get EU support," the official said. BILLIONS AT STAKELast year, Hungary vetoed a similar proposal to give 18 billion euros in financial assistance to Ukraine in 2023. EU officials told Reuters last month that they were looking at unlocking at least some of that money as the bloc seeks to win Orban's vote for Ukraine.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Zoltan Kovacs, Valdis Dombrovskis, Orban, Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Andrew Heavens, Toby Chopra Organizations: Moscow, Russia, Kyiv, European, Hungary's, EU, Trade, Ukraine, Hungary, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hungary, Moscow Ukraine, BRUSSELS, BUDAPEST, Ukraine, Kyiv, Brussels, Moscow, EU, Budapest, Russia

☆ Orban’s Dream of an Illiberal Pan-European Alliance Is Fading
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Andrew Higgins | More About Andrew Higgins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

Exultant after winning his fourth election in a row last year on promises to protect Christian values and keep out immigrants, Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary thanked like-minded conservatives in Poland as well as other “friends” abroad for their support. Europe was turning his way, he rejoiced. Hungary “is not the past,” he said, but “our common European future.”But Mr. Orban’s hopes of leading a pan-European movement — one that is deeply illiberal and infused with nationalism — are fading, deflated by the poor performance at the polls by some of his most fervent admirers in Europe and deep divisions over the war in Ukraine. Most crucially, Poland’s governing Law and Justice party — a longtime partner of Mr. Orban’s Fidesz party in its battles with the European Union over minority rights, migrants, the rule of law and other issues— lost a general election last month.

Persons: Exultant, Viktor Orban, Hungary “, ”, Orban’s, — Organizations: Orban’s Fidesz, European Union Locations: Poland, Europe, Hungary, Ukraine

☆ New Slovak government rejects final military aid package for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Then designated Prime Minister Robert Fico walks on the day of the new cabinet's inauguration at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 25, 2023. Fico's government rejected the package at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, according to the government's website. Fico ran a campaign criticising Western military support for Ukraine and sanctions on Russia, and backs pushing for peace talks, a line similar to Hungary's leader Viktor Orban but rejected by Kyiv. Slovakia, which shares a border with Ukraine in its east, had sent military aid in 13 packages and worth 671 million euros to Kyiv since Russia's attack in February 2022 before Fico's appointment. Diplomats have said army stocks have been largely depleted so a halt in official military aid may have limited impact.

Persons: Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico's, Fico, Viktor Orban, Jason Hovet, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, NATO, Kyiv, SNS, Diplomats, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Russia, Prague

If accepted, EU officials expect formal accession talks with Kyiv to start next year. A top aide to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Budapest would not support Ukraine's EU integration unless Kyiv changes its laws on minorities, in particular as regards education. "Moldova is firmly on the path for EU membership and we will continue working relentlessly towards this goal," the country's president, Maia Sandu, said in welcoming the move. The Commission said the EU should also begin membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina once a long list of extensive conditions are met. In 2020, Britain was the first country to ever leave the EU, a major setback for European integration following World War Two.

Persons: Yves Herman, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, Viktor Orban, Maia Sandu, von der Leyen, enlargements, Andrew Gray, Yuliia, Olena, Alexander Tanas, Gabriela Baczynska, Nick Macfie, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, European Commission, EU, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Brussels, Belgium, Moldova, Bosnia, Georgia, BRUSSELS, KYIV, Hungary, Kyiv, Hungarian, Budapest, EU, Moscow, Tbilisi, Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Netherlands, Britain

☆ EU weighs advancing Ukraine's membership bid as Russia war drags on
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing progress achieved towards membership by EU hopefuls. The Commission said last June that Ukraine met two out of seven conditions the EU had set to start membership talks. MOLDOVA, GEORGIAIn good news for Ukraine, Germany's foreign minister expressed confidence that the EU would advance its bid to join. The latter got nine conditions to start membership talks, including fighting organised crime, and can get a conditional positive recommendation along with its neighbour Ukraine. But Tbilisi has the backing of Orban and could still move ahead on its EU path as the bloc wrestles for influence with Russia.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen's, von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Viktor Orban, Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Georgia BRUSSELS, European Union, Kyiv, EU, Hungarian, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Moldova, Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels, Kyiv, Europe, Italian, MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, Moscow, Georgia, Chisinau, Russia, Tbilisi

☆ EU Weighs Advancing Ukraine's Membership Bid as Russia War Drags On
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels-based executive will publish a report on Wednesday assessing progress achieved towards membership by EU hopefuls. Such talks take years before candidates meet extensive legal and economic criteria to join, and the bloc is not willing to take in a country at war. The Commission said last June that Ukraine met two out of seven conditions the EU had set to start membership talks. MOLDOVA, GEORGIAIn good news for Ukraine, Germany's foreign minister expressed confidence that the EU would advance its bid to join. But Tbilisi has the backing of Orban and could still move ahead on its EU path as the bloc wrestles for influence with Russia.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Ursula von der Leyen's, von der Leyen, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Viktor Orban, Orban, Gabriela Baczynska, Sharon Singleton Organizations: European Union, Kyiv, EU, Hungarian, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Ursula von der Leyen's Brussels, Kyiv, Europe, Italian, MOLDOVA, GEORGIA, Moscow, Georgia, Moldova, Chisinau, Russia, Tbilisi

☆ China EV maker BYD to build first Europe plant in Hungary -FAS
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies BYD Co Ltd FollowFRANKFURT, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD (002594.SZ), plans to build its first European car factory in Hungary, a German newspaper reported on Saturday. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (FAS), citing unnamed sources close to BYD, said the decision had already been made internally. A government website in Shenzhen, where BYD is headquartered, posted an article last month saying that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met BYD Chairman and President Wang Chuanfu on a visit to the company. BYD, contacted by Reuters, said that it was still looking for the right location and would make an announcement at the end of the year. Reporting by Brenda Goh, Jason Xue, Krisztina Than, and Tom Sims; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Wang Chuanfu, Brenda Goh, Jason Xue, Tom Sims, Jason Neely Organizations: BYD, FRANKFURT, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hungary, BYD, Shenzhen, Hungarian

The recent missteps have created an unwelcome wrinkle for Trump, his campaign team and the larger Republican political apparatus. Republicans have questioned whether Biden is able to serve as commander-in-chief, pointing to his age and mental fitness. And, during a rally in South Carolina in September, Trump confused former Florida Gov. “President Trump continues to dominate in primary polls and is winning against Crooked Joe Biden in the general election,” Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement. Instead of attacking Biden directly over his age, Trump instead tries to paint Biden as “incompetent,” and “cognitively impaired,” which he argues is not solely about the president’s age.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, –, He’s, ” Trump, Biden, Weeks, Trump, Barack Obama, Obama, Viktor Orbán, Turkey –, Jeb Bush, George W, Bush, ”, …, Ron DeSantis, —, can’t, ’, ” DeSantis, Nikki Haley, I’ve, ” Haley, MSNBC chyron, Trump’s, Biden’s, Crooked Joe Biden, Steven Cheung, “, he’s, Megyn Kelly, Kelly Organizations: CNN, Trump, Republican, Florida Gov, Former South Carolina Gov, Republican Jewish Coalition, Democratic National Committee, Twitter, MSNBC, Hamas, Publicly, “, Crooked, Air Force, Biden, NBC, Sirius XM Locations: Cedar Rapids , Iowa, Sioux City , Iowa, Sioux Falls , South Dakota, Iowa, Washington , DC, Hungary, Turkey, Israel, South Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire, “, Former

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — People younger than 18 have been barred from visiting this year's World Press Photo exhibition in Budapest, after Hungary's right-wing populist government determined that some of its photos violate a contentious law restricting LGBTQ+ content. The prestigious global photo exhibition, on display in Hungary's National Museum in Budapest, receives more than 4 million visitors from around the world every year. Showcasing outstanding photojournalism, its mission is to bring visual coverage of a range of important events to a global audience. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesJoumana El Zein Khoury, executive director of World Press Photo, called it worrisome that a photo series “that is so positive, so inclusive,” had been targeted by Hungary’s government. “How the LGBTQ minority lives is not the biggest problem in the world,” Duro told the AP.

Persons: Hannah Reyes Morales, El Zein Khoury, ”, Khoury, Viktor Orbán, Ursula von der, ” Dora Duro, ” Duro, ” Reyes Morales, “, Tamas Revesz, Morales, ” Revesz Organizations: —, World Press, Associated Press, European Union, AP, Press Locations: BUDAPEST, Hungary, Budapest, Philippines, Europe, Ukraine

Only after he was awkwardly pulled aside on stage and informed that he was in Sioux City did he make a correction. Trump's Sioux flub caught the attention of Florida Gov. “I don’t think he’s senile. A Trump spokesperson noted that Trump hasn’t criticized Biden directly on age, and Trump has long argued that Biden's problem isn't actually his age but his mental state. But when a reporter noted Trump’s actual age, neither woman saw it as problem.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Viktor Orbán, “, ” Biden, Biden, ”, Skylar Swan, it’s, Melody Crowder, Meyer, they’ve, they’re, ” Crowder, Cecelia S, Curtis, ” Curtis, Sioux flub, Ron DeSantis ’, Chris Christie, ” Christie, flubs haven't, Trump hasn’t, isn't, Harris, Josh Schwerin, Trump’s, ” Schwerin, Nikki Haley, Haley, Heidi Morin, ” interjected Kristin Brand, ” Brand, Janine Whitcomb, ” ___ Colvin Organizations: WASHINGTON, Hamas, Trump, Democratic, Republican, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Research, Davidson College, United State, Democrat, Biden, Florida Gov, Former New Jersey Gov, National, Fox News, Former South Carolina Gov, United Nations Locations: Hungarian, Turkey, U.S, Summerville , South Carolina, North Carolina, Iowa, United, Summerville, Sioux City , Iowa, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sioux City, Israel, Gaza, Derry , New Hampshire, Bourne , Massachusetts, Morin, Epping

☆ EU summit turns its eyes away from Ukraine despite a commitment to stay the course with Zelenskyy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

It was a good thing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his videoconference address to the European Union summit pre-slotted for the opening session. They didn't come back to the issue of Russia's war in Ukraine again before Friday's closing day of the summit. Not only have the geopolitics in general shifted, some of the EU politics in particular are no longer as kind to Zelenskyy. There is also a four-year 20-billion-euro ($21 billion) military and security package in the pipeline. "If we don't help Ukraine, then what is the alternative, really," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Mike Johnson, Israel, Robert Fico, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, Anton Siluanov, Boris Pistorius, Fico, Orban, Kaja Kallas, Leo Varadkar, Putin Organizations: European Union, EU, U.S ., Slovak, Ukraine, Russian, U.S . Congress, IRIS, " Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, Slovakia, Germany, France, Hungary, Zelenskyy, Russian, United States, Brussels, Estonian, Russia

☆ One dead, eight injured as car carrying migrants crashes in Hungary
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A crashed car carrying migrants is seen near Asotthalom, Hungary, near the Serbian border, October 27, 2023. REUTERS/Stringer Acquire Licensing RightsBUDAPEST, Oct 27 (Reuters) - One person died and eight people including four children were injured in Hungary near the Serbian border on Friday when a car carrying migrants crashed with a truck, authorities said. Renata Papp, mayor of Asotthalom village where the accident occurred, said on Facebook the car driver, a smuggler, was lifted from the wreckage by another smuggler and whisked away in another car. The migrants, predominantly from the Middle East and Afghanistan, enter Hungary from Serbia despite a steel fence that Prime Minister Viktor Orban had built after the 2015 migration crisis that rocked Europe. Reporting by Krisztina Than and Krisztina Fenyo; Editing by Andrew CawthorneOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Stringer, Renata Papp, Jozsef Hanga, Viktor Orban, Krisztina, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Facebook, Thomson Locations: Asotthalom, Hungary, Serbian, Serbia, Balkans, Slovakia, Austria, East, Afghanistan, Europe

About 100 wives, mothers, children and relatives of Ukrainian soldiers attended a demonstration in the capital, Kyiv. Even so, U.S. officials say that Russian forces are experiencing morale problems as another winter campaign looms. The latest hot spot draining resources is Avdiivka, a city in the eastern Donetsk region that Russian forces partially occupy. The Washington-based think tank noted that Ukrainian military officials said that around 5,000 Russian soldiers have been killed and wounded, and 400 armored vehicles lost in the area since Oct. 10. Satellite images show the Russian military lost at least 109 military vehicles, mostly armored fighting vehicles and tanks, near Avdiivika between Oct. 10 and 20, the institute said.

Persons: “ Demobilize, ”, “, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Rishi Sunak, ” Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Mike Johnson, Biden, Viktor Orbán, Vladimir Putin, Robert Fico, videoconference, Zelenskyy, Putin, Boris Pistorius, Hanna Arhirova, Geir Moulson Organizations: Russia, Verkhovna Rada, ” Protesters, Institute for, Kyiv, ”, European Union, Ukraine, Slovak, IRIS, Defense Ministry, Associated Press Locations: KYIV, Ukraine, Ukraine's, Kyiv, Russia, U.S, Donetsk, Avdiivka, Russian, Washington, Avdiivika, Ukrainian, Moscow, North Korea, Iran, ” Ukraine, Hungarian, Brussels, Germany, Israel, Berlin, russia, ukraine

BRUSSELS (AP) — It was a good thing Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his videoconference address to the European Union summit pre-slotted for the opening session. They didn't come back to the issue of Russia's war in Ukraine again before Friday's closing day of the summit. With Ukraine funding in jeopardy in the U.S. Congress, Zelenskyy is looking to leave the financial lifeline to Europe open. “If we don’t help Ukraine, then what is the alternative, really,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said. Why do you think that you’re safe then?”Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has the answer.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mike Johnson, Robert Fico, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, ” Orbán, Anton Siluanov, Zelenskyy, “, ”, Boris Pistorius, Kaja Kallas, Leo Varadkar, Putin, ” ___ Geir Moulson, Sylvie Corbet, Justin Spike Organizations: Ukrainian, European Union, EU, U.S ., Ukraine, Russian, U.S . Congress, IRIS, ” Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, EU, Slovak, Germany, France, Slovakia, neigboring Hungary, Zelenskyy, Kyiv, Russian, United States, Brussels, Estonian, Russia, Berlin, Paris, Budapest, Hungary

☆ 'Positions Not Matching Yet' as EU Leaders Fight for Slice of Budget Pie
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The bloc's executive proposed that member states chip in more to the shared coffers to provide 50 billion euros to Ukraine and spend another 15 billion on migration. Budgetary decisions require unanimity and divisions were on display on Thursday as the bloc's 27 national leaders arrived for a summit in Brussels. On the bloc's eastern flank, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that - beyond supporting Ukraine - joint spending should grow for improving EU defence capabilities. Lithuania said 50 billion euros for Ukraine was not enough. Orban's comments come as his government is trying to unlock billions in aid envisaged for Hungary in the EU budget but blocked by the European Commission over rule of law concerns.

Persons: Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, Alexander de Croo, Kaja Kallas, Kyriakos, Hungary's Viktor Orban, Orban, that's, Ireland's Leo Varadkar, Olaf Scholz, Marine Strauss, Krisztina, Tassilo Hummel, Rene Maltezou, Jan Strupczewski, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: European Union, EU, Belgian, European Commission, Diplomats Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Brussels, Estonian, Lithuania, Greece, East, Africa, Budapest, Hungary, Austria, Western Balkans, Germany

☆ Slovakia's Fico will not support more military aid to Ukraine at EU summit -Slovak media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Slovakia's newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico attends the new cabinet's inauguration, at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 25, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa Acquire Licensing RightsOct 26 (Reuters) - Slovakia's newly appointed Prime Minister Robert Fico will not back further military aid for Ukraine nor support further sanctions against Russia at his first European Union summit, Slovak media cited him as saying on Thursday. Fico campaigned heavily in a September election on pledges to halt Slovakia's military aid to Ukraine, make foreign policy independent, and protect borders from illegal migrants. The EU and its member countries have provided billions of euros in assistance to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February last year. Fico has pledged repeatedly to halt military aid for Ukraine, after previous Slovak governments shipped military hardware including fighter jets, an S-300 air defence system, and fighting and de-mining vehicles to Ukraine.

Persons: Slovakia's, Robert Fico, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico, Dennik, Viktor Orban, Jason Hovet, Deborah Kyvrikosaios Organizations: REUTERS, Russia, Union, European Union, Ukraine, EU, year's, Pravda, Hungarian, Kyiv, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Ukraine, Brussels, Israel, Russian, United States, Prague

☆ Hungary's Orban Says Is 'Proud' of Putin Meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that he was "proud" of his contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he met in China this month despite European Union efforts to isolate Moscow for waging a war against Ukraine. Orban spoke on arriving to a summit of the EU's 27 national leaders in Brussels. He drew criticism for his talks with Putin, which had been organised with great pomp. Therefore we keep open all the communication lines to the Russians, otherwise there will be no chance for peace. This is a strategy, we are proud of it," Orban told reporters.

Persons: Viktor Orban, Vladimir Putin, Orban, Putin, Gabriela Baczynska, Marine Strauss, Jan Strupczewski Organizations: European Union, Ukraine Locations: BRUSSELS, Hungarian, China, Moscow, Brussels, Europe

☆ Slovakia's Fico appointed prime minister for fourth time
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Slovakia's designated Prime Minister Robert Fico and Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova attend the new cabinet's inauguration, at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia, October 25, 2023. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa Acquire Licensing RightsOct 25 (Reuters) - Leftist leader Robert Fico was appointed Slovakia's prime minister on Wednesday for the fourth time, after pledging in his election campaign to end military support for Ukraine and criticising sanctions on Russia. President Zuzana Caputova appointed Fico and his cabinet after his SMER-SSD party won the Sept. 30 election and formed a coalition with the centre-left HLAS and nationalist SNS parties. Fico quit as prime minister in 2018 amid mass public protests against corruption after a journalist was murdered. Both Ukraine and migration may be among topics at an EU summit on Thursday and Friday that Fico will attend.

Persons: Robert Fico, Zuzana Caputova, Radovan Stoklasa, Fico, Viktor Orban, Orban, Jan Lopatka, Toby Chopra, Kevin Liffey Organizations: REUTERS, Ukraine, SNS, EU, NATO, Thomson Locations: Bratislava, Slovakia, Russia, Ukraine, U.S, Europe, Brussels, United States, Prague

☆ Trump praised Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orbán as 'the leader of Turkey'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Trump appeared to mix up two different countries while talking about Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. AdvertisementAdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump mistakenly referred to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as "the leader of Turkey" during a rambling speech. "Viktor Orbán, did anyone ever hear of him, he is probably one of the strongest leaders anywhere in the world. He is the leader of Turkey," said Trump, adding that Orbán shares a "front" with Russia. AdvertisementAdvertisementX user @Acyn captured part of the speech:Trump: I was very honored, there’s a man, Viktor Orbán.

Persons: Trump, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, —, Donald Trump, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Victor Orbán, doesn't, there’s, Joe Biden, Tucker Carlson Organizations: Hungary's, Service, Fidesz, Fox News, Conservative Locations: Hungary, Russia, Turkey, Derry , New Hampshire

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