Hungary's prime minister has urged the European Union to start direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire in Ukraine and drop plans for a joint declaration at an extraordinary EU summit next week,

The Trump administration is facing widespread criticism for aligning with authoritarian regimes—including Russia, North Korea, Belarus, and Hungary—by opposing a United Nations resolution condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Hungary wants to remove eight individuals from the European Union's Russia sanctions list and receive fresh guarantees on Ukraine gas transit talks before agreeing to renew the restrictions, EU diplomats said.

Hungary's biggest bank, OTP Bank , increased its net profit last year to more than 1.0 trillion forints ($2.9 billion), bolstered by its business in Russia where profits increased by more than 40% to 137 billion forints.

Budapest voices concerns over an alleged second drone attack by Ukraine on key TurkStream gas pipeline pumping facility in Russia

EU diplomats say that Hungary wants to remove 8 individuals from the European Union’s Russia sanctions list, and to receive new

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a staunch supporter of Trump and considered to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Europe, refused to endorse part of the summit statement in favor of Ukraine and claims that it is the European Union who isolated itself,

His position has given the former Warsaw Pact nation — which has a population only slightly larger than New Jersey — an outsized role in European diplomacy.

EU member states agreed to unlock what could amount to an unprecedented 800 billion euros ($867 billion) for defense spending amid mounting signs the U.S. is no longer a reliable ally, and the defense of Ukraine is falling squarely on their shoulders.

Trump believes Saudi Arabia is best placed to bring Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table. He told reporters last night that both sides want a deal because they have no choice. This was the largest-scale Russian attack involving ships based in the Black Sea since the start of the year, Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk says.

The European Parliament seeks to revoke Hungary’s voting rights in the EU, accusing the country of obstructing joint decisions. Politico reports that the Parliament is also proposing to appoint the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,