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

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,

Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Hungary, Haiti, Iran, Nicaragua, Niger, Sudan, Syria and the United States. One of these things is not like the others. Or is it?

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.

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,

Hungary's biggest bank, OTP Bank, boosted its business with Russia last year, bolstering its profits, as rival European lenders came under increasing pressure to pare back their ties with Moscow due to its war in Ukraine.

The European Council has issued a joint statement reaffirming unwavering support for Ukraine, highlighting five key principles aimed at securing a lasting peace. EU leaders emphasized that no negotiations with Russia can occur without Ukraine's direct involvement and that European security must be part of the talks.