Putin’s Budapest cope, fallout from new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil, and new war crimes allegations

Below, you’ll find a digest of news reports from October 23, 2025, in Russian and English. Today, we focus on Vladimir Putin’s glut of public comments on the collapsed Budapest summit, motherhood, and the impact of new U.S. sanctions on Russian...

Hungary’s Lavish Aid Project for Bosnian Serb Farmers Now Seen as ‘PR Financing’

At the end of 2021, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban pledged 100 million euros for Republika Srpska. At the time of the announcement, the aid sparked public debate in Bosnia and Herzegovina about whether the funds would come with strings...

Trump-Putin summit in Budapest postponed over Ukraine ceasefire dispute

A anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has been postponed indefinitely, stalling diplomatic efforts to address the war in Ukraine. The summit, which was slated to be held in Budapest, Hungary, was...

How Trump’s plans for a Budapest summit with Putin turned into sanctions on Russia

By Kristen Holmes, Kevin Liptak, CNN (CNN) — When President Donald Trump hung up the phone after his talk with Russia’s Vladimir Putin last week, he was so convinced there was enough progress made that he announced he was heading soon to Budapest...

Statement on Ukraine at EU summit supported by 26 countries, excluding Hungary

BRUSSELS, October 24. /TASS/. The statement on Ukraine at the EU summit was supported by 26 out of 27 states and was not included in the final declaration. The European Council discussed the latest developments in Ukraine. The final statement was...

Hungarian Parliament Prolongs State of Emergency

This Tuesday, the governing majority in Hungarian parliament assented to prolonging the government’s state of emergency for another 180 days till May 13 next year, MTI reports. The proposal submitted by the justice ministry was passed with 127...

Thousands rally in Budapest backing Orbán ahead of tight election

Tens of thousands of Hungarians marched through Budapest on Thursday in a show of support for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, as he faces one of the most competitive elections of his 15-year rule. The demonstration, called a “peace march” by...

Orban calls on Hungarians to stand with nation against external interference

BUDAPEST, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on Hungarians to stand with the nation against external interference here on Thursday, at a rally marking the 69th anniversary of the 1956 revolution. Addressing supporters...

Hungary To Buy Nuclear Fuel From The United States

Hungary will begin negotiations to purchase nuclear fuel from the United States as it looks to diversify its supplies, the country’s foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told the country’s MI state news channel on Wednesday, noting that Budapest needs...

Lithuania’s president urges EU to add Lukoil to 20th Russia sanctions package

77Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda has urged European Union leaders to include Lukoil in the bloc’s forthcoming 20th package of sanctions against Russia, arguing that the oil major should no longer be treated as an exception. Speaking to...

When the UN investigated Hungary’s 1956 revolution against Soviet rule

A year after the crushing of the revolution, the United Nations held closed hearings to understand what had happened in Hungary in the autumn of 1956. The testimonies revealed the true face of the uprising – the one Soviet propaganda tried to...

Massive crowds and an unprecedented election atmosphere: How Fidesz and the Tisza Party commemorated 23 October in Budapest

In addition to its historical significance, this year’s October 23 national holiday in Budapest was marked by major political demonstrations and parallel rallies by the government and opposition forces. In the morning, Fidesz held its traditional...

Austrian hospitality? Hungarian football fans stopped at border without explanation

A serious issue arose on Thursday when Austrian authorities refused entry to a special train carrying Ferencváros supporters. The fans were travelling from Budapest to watch their team’s Europa League match against Salzburg that evening, but the...

Mass Demonstrations in Budapest Highlight Growing Tensions Ahead of Hungary’s National Election

BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA Hundreds of thousands of Hungarians flooded the streets of Budapest on Thursday as rival political movements staged competing demonstrations, signaling the mounting intensity of the country’s political landscape ahead of next...

“Talks With Putin Don’t Go Anywhere” Trump Cancels Budapest Summit

On October 22, President Trump announced the cancellation of a planned Budapest summit with Putin, citing stalled diplomatic progress and poor timing. He expressed frustration over Russia-Ukraine war negotiations. The cancellation coincided with...

Ten of thousands march in Budapest in pro- and anti-government rallies – video

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán said during a rally in Budapest that the European Union wanted war and intended to eventually divide up Ukraine. Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition party, recalled 1989 when Orbán rose to fame by standing...

Hungary signs Artemis Accords

WASHINGTON — Hungary has become the latest country to sign the Artemis Accords, outlining norms of behavior for sustainable space exploration. In a social media post Oct. 22, NASA Acting Administrator Sean Duffy said Hungary signed the Accords,...

Rival Parties Rally In Budapest On Anniversary Of Hungary’s 1956 Uprising

Tens of thousands of people marched in Budapest on October 23, the anniversary of a 1956 revolt against Soviet authority that was violently crushed. Prime Minister Victor Orban led what he called a “Peace March,” stressing his opposition to...

Poland warns it could seize Putin's plane under international law

Poland has issued a stark warning that it could seize an aircraft carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin under international law if it attempts to traverse Polish airspace. The statement from Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski raises the...

Russian President Vladimir Putin Slams New US Sanctions As ‘Unfriendly Move’, Says Pressure Tactics Won’t Work

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described the latest US sanctions as an "unfriendly move" that would not help relations between Moscow and Washington. He said the new restrictions would have little effect on Russia's economy, adding,...