Csongor Körömi

Countries pledge millions fund US weapons for Ukraine European countries are promising to buy U.S. weapons to send to Kyiv.

European countries are lining up for NATO's new program that pays the U.S. for weapons to be sent to Ukraine. On Monday, the Netherlands pledged €500 million, and then today, Denmark, Sweden and Norway announced a joint package of similar value.

Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/neth...

Orbán vs. von der Leyen: Budapest Pride takes center stage in Europe’s culture war Dozens of prominent European politicians are heading to Hungary for Pride, but the country’s conservative government insists the parade is illegal.

More than 70 MEPs will attend Budapest Pride on Saturday, despite the 🇭🇺 govt's claim that the event is illegal.
However, organizers found a legal loophole, rendering PM Viktor Orbán's efforts to ban the LGBTQ event ineffective. Read here w/ @maxgriera.bsky.social : www.politico.eu/article/orba...

Canada signs defense pact with EU The partnership will help both Ottawa and Brussels to deliver NATO’s new capability requirements.

Canada signed a major defense deal with the EU, with the aim to shift Canada's security relationship away from the U.S. and to allow Ottawa to take part in new European defense spending programs.

Our reporting with Yurii Stasiuk and @jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social: www.politico.eu/article/cana...

Orbán’s Fidesz party proposes Russia-style crackdown on Hungary’s civil society The new bill fits into a pattern of democratic backsliding for the Central European country.

Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz submitted a bill to parliament on Wednesday, which would start to blacklist organizations receiving foreign funding, including from EU grants, if it deems them a “threat” to national sovereignty.

Read @elenagiordano.bsky.social ’s reporting: www.politico.eu/article/vikt...

Zelenskyy will head to Turkey for potential Putin meeting, top aide says Ukraine calls Russian leader’s bluff.

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is traveling to Turkey to negotiate with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, his chief of staff said at #cds2025

Andriy Yermak added that if Putin refuses to come, it will be "the last signal" that Russia "doesn't want to end the war": www.politico.eu/article/ukra...

Checking in from Denmark, where I'll be reporting with my colleagues from the Copenhagen Democracy Summit. Let me know if you're in the area to catch up - and follow @politico.eu for our coverage!

Ukraine says it busted Hungarian spy network “Agents were also searching for weak spots in land and air defense” in western Ukraine, security services allege.

Ukrainian security services arrested two Ukrainian nationals it said were working for Hungarian military intel near the 🇭🇺–🇺🇦 border.

“Agents were also searching for weak spots in land and air defense” in western Ukraine, security services allege: www.politico.eu/article/ukra...

Berlin takes lead in Europe’s rearmament as global defense spending soars Military spending surged last year in ways unseen since the Cold War, study says.

Military spending surged last year in ways unseen since the Cold War, and Germany is by far the largest defense spender in Western Europe, @sipri.org study says.

But even Berlin's spending boost falls short of what Russia is pouring into its military. Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/germ...

Budapest has opened the door to using AI facial recognition to identify LGBTQ+ protestors. Now, the EU is looking into whether Hungary’s plan is illegal. Read more in our story with Pieter here:

After nine months on the Breaking News desk, I joined @politico.eu’s Defense team this week. Follow us with @laukaya.bsky.social and @jacopobarigazzi.bsky.social for the latest scoops in this booming field!

Orbán bans Pride in Hungary as polls show rival surging Fidesz says it’s trying to prohibit Pride to keep children safe from the so-called LGBTQ+ agenda, but opponents say the prime minister’s party is trying to create a wedge issue.

Viktor Orbán's Hungary is now the first country in the EU to ban Pride marches. His party says they want to keep children safe from LGBTQ+ agenda, opponents say it's just a 'dog’s toy' – but organizers fear whether Hungary is still a democracy.

Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/orba...

Canadians want to join the EU. An empathetic Brussels says it will never happen. EU says it is flattered by poll results, but calls on Canada to fight Trump tariffs hand in hand.

Brussels reacted warmly to the results of a poll showing interest among Canadians in joining the European Union — before clarifying that the idea is a nonstarter.

Today at 17:30 CET, Andrew Tate and his brother arrived in Florida after being released from Romania. Florida Governor DeSantis and President Trump said they didn’t know about the release of the Tate brothers - despite earlier press reports claiming the US pressured Bucharest on the case:

Orbán’s government bans Budapest Pride in ‘public form’ Hungary ‘should not tolerate Pride marching’ through Budapest’s city center, top minister says.

In 1997, Hungary was the first country in the former Eastern Bloc where a Pride march was held, marking the country's pioneering role in LGBTQ+ rights. Now, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán wants Hungary to be the first EU country to ban Pride in public. Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/hung...

🚨 BREAKING: Romania’s pro-Russia presidential election front-runner Călin Georgescu has been taken in by police for questioning.

Read the developing story: ow.ly/1CgL50V6MXb

France’s Bardella cancels CPAC speech after Steve Bannon’s ‘Nazi’ salute Bannon’s response: French far-right leader is “unworthy of leading France.”

French far-right leader Jordan Bardella cancels speech on CPAC in Washington after Steve Bannon gave a gesture resembling a Nazi salute.

Bannon’s quick response: Bardella is “a little boy, not a man”, and he’s unworthy of leading France. Read here: www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Russia wants to declare ‘victory’ on Feb. 24, Ukrainian intel says Moscow wants to show itself ‘victorious’ against Ukraine and NATO on third anniversary of invasion, Kyiv’s HUR says.

Russia wants to declare “victory” in its war against Ukraine — even against NATO — on Feb. 24, Kyiv’s military intelligence claims.

They say the Kremlin instructed its propagandists to discredit 🇺🇦’s EU partners aiming to help Kyiv as “enemies of peace.” Read here: www.politico.eu/article/war-...

Israeli military conducts ‘intensive operation’ in West Bank after bus explosions Netanyahu’s office says the explosions in Tel Aviv’s suburb were an attempt to carry out a “chain of mass bus bombings.”

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to carry out an “intensive operation” in the West Bank after explosions on buses near Tel Aviv yesterday.

Birkenstock sandals not ‘works of art,’ German court says in denying copyright bid Federal Court of Justice rules Birkenstock is not entitled to damages from cut-price imitators of its footwear.

Germany’s Federal Court of Justice ruled today that German shoe maker Birkenstock’s world-famous sandals can’t be considered “works of art” that enjoy copyright protection.

Spain’s disgraced football chief Luis Rubiales found guilty of sexual assault Rubiales was fined €10,800, but the court gave him no jail time.

Former Spanish football chief Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of a crime of sexual assault after forcibly kissing footballer Jenni Hermoso.

Caribbean leader urges Ursula von der Leyen to push for slavery compensation Grenada’s prime minister jabs at European Commission president over historical slave trade.

“Your Excellency, @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu, I don’t mean to be impolite, but I’ll say this to you: The issue of reparations for the enslavement of African peoples is an issue we will take up with you,” outgoing chairman of Caribbean Community said.

Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/cari...

Trump blaming Ukraine for Putin’s war leaves Europe reeling The U.S. president called out Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a diatribe against Kyiv.

Europeans can barely find words to respond to Donald Trump, who blames Ukraine for the war Russia is waging against it. One British government aide simply said: "Jesus."

Read more here w/ @elenagiordano.bsky.social @noahkeate.bsky.social @stefanboscia.bsky.social : www.politico.eu/article/dona...

The bilateral talks between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov "went well," according to Vladimir Putin's top aide: "There was a very serious conversation on all the issues we wanted to raise," including the war in Ukraine. Read more here:

Russia: Ukraine has a ‘sovereign right’ to join EU — but not NATO Moscow “won’t dictate anything” to Kyiv, unless it’s related to military alliances.

Ukraine has a sovereign right to join the EU, but this “sovereignty” does not apply to military alliances, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

“That’s what we’ve been waiting for,” Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán comments on talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. “If I were to comment on it in one word, I would say ‘Hallelujah.’” Read more here:

Austria’s political crisis deepens as far right pulls plug on coalition talks Kickl’s Freedom Party walked away after failure to reach a deal on ministerial positions. Mainstream parties might try again to find an agreement.

Political crisis in Austria🇦🇹 deepens as the far right FPÖ didn't get what it wanted: securing the key posts of interior and finance in a coalition with ÖVP. Mainstream parties may try again to come together, after their first attempt failed miserably. Read more here: www.politico.eu/article/aust...

German far right wants to join forces with Orbán to dismantle EU from within Alternative for Germany seeks international friends and legitimacy ahead of upcoming national election.

"Everything the AfD represents today would be very good for Hungary," PM Viktor Orbán said after meeting Alice Weidel in Budapest. The AfD leader wants to join forces with Orbán to dismantle EU from within, and build her reputation. Reporting with Nette Nöstlinger: www.politico.eu/article/alte...

Hungary floats WHO withdrawal after Trump and Milei exits Viktor Orbán’s team suggest the exodus from WHO could continue, as a Russian lawmaker also joins the call.

Top minister in charge of Viktor Orbán's office said Hungary could withdraw from @who.int — "If the most powerful country in the world decides to leave an international organization, then I think the Hungarian govt should also consider taking such a step." Read more: www.politico.eu/article/hung...

Colombia’s president: Legalize cocaine, it’s no worse than whiskey Global drug trafficking could be “easily dismantled” if coke was “sold like wine,” according to the Latin American leader.

Sniff! Colombia's president says cocaine is being used as a scapegoat, even though it is "no worse than whiskey."
Moreover, coke should be legalized and "sold like wine" — to combat drug trafficking crime. Read here: www.politico.eu/article/colo...

Orbán on Russia: US sanctions good, EU sanctions bad Hungarian PM again makes performative threat about lifting the bloc’s tough measures against Moscow.

Hungary's PM Viktor Orbán on sanctions against Russia:
* if EU imposes them = 👿
* if Trump threatens to impose them = 😇
Beside that, he also made a performative threat about lifting sanctions if @ec.europa.eu fails to fulfill their energy security guarantees. Read: www.politico.eu/article/hung...