Ukraine faces a new crisis with Hungary over the kidnapping of cash collectors. Olena remembers when criminals killed bank staff in Ukraine — now Hungary detains them.
Orban is an odious man. I hope the Putin ally is soundly defeated in the April election but I fear for safe, legal, non-corrupted voting. It should be pointed out that Hungary could receive non-Russian oil, though more expensive, via Croatia.
Do you think the EU will take concrete steps to monitor the April 12th election, or will Orbán’s "anti-war" rhetoric successfully keep his base mobilized?
Ukraine is getting attacked from all angles and their strength and determination are admirable. I hope they can last a few more months or years when trump and hopefully Orban are out of the picture. The worst of the worst are holding back the best in Ukraine. Iran just declared war against Ukraine and the stupid, addled, dope trump refused Ukrainian help to stop Iranian drones. Such a pathetic group of trump admin are trying to take on the most complex of probes.
Thank you so much for your comment and for sharing your support for Ukraine's resilience during this incredibly difficult time. You're right that the political landscape is shifting quickly.
Do you think the "drone diplomacy" being offered by Ukraine will eventually win over its skeptics in the West, or will the distractions of the new conflict in Iran continue to sideline their efforts?
I think if a nation is smart and is looking toward to future as drone warfare becomes the norm, then Ukraine could do well selling its drone downing technology and strategies. But the US has its military industrial complex and the moneygrubbing defense contractors wouldn't be receiving the taxpayer grift from GOP and trump, so Ukraine would need to find other markets, such as the Gulf States and Having the best technology and capabilities does not always win the contract. American defense contractors could offer inferior equipment and still shut out Ukraine because of lobbyists and pay to play schemes. But the EU and others should definitely take advantage of Ukraines skills against drones.
🤗 That dog is what all of us wish for the people of the world - happy, well fed, appreciated, and safe at present! As for Orban - as someone said above "an odious man" 🤮🤬 Not only putting innocent bank couriers through an horrific experience AND stealing the money, but also trying to turn people against Zelenskyy & the EU itself. IF he gets re-elected I think/hope the EU will expel Hungary, or at least demote them to an associate with no voting power 🤞
And of course Trump is lying about using Ukraine help with combating drones - such a complete disgrace to a once proud nation 🥺
Thank you so much for your comment; I really appreciate your recognition of how much we’ve transformed since the 90s.
Do you think Ukraine’s role as a global tutor in drone defense will finally convince Western leaders to bypass the usual bureaucracy and grant us the place in NATO and EU?
Sadly, I don’t think so — bureaucracies being what they are — but they definitely should.
At the same time, Ukraine can very much become part of new institutions and structures, just as Israel has, based on both nations’ indispensability to the security of their regions.
CENTCOM has integrated Israel and its non-Allied Arab neighbors in defense architecture. The Abraham Accords has done the same diplomatically and economically. EUCOM can potentially do the same for Ukraine militarily if the US chooses to integrate it; it would be criminally foolish not to!
I see NATO as less relevant today, given so many members’ insufficient commitment to their own defense and obvious lack of preparedness — e.g., UK. I also think politics have weakened the alliance to a dangerous degree. And some of its members are just treacherous.
Ukraine has shown more military prowess and commitment to world security than Spain, for example, in the current Iran war. The latter has prioritized its venom toward Israel over security for southern Europe, which Iran is currently attacking in Türkiye. And don’t get me started on Putin-hugging Hungary or Hamas-supporting Türkiye!
My ex-husband lived in Spain during his childhood because his US Air Force father was stationed at Rota, a base built for European, not American, defense. The British didn’t want to let US planes use its bases either, the ones that we largely pay for! With friends like that…
Ukraine, which has been largely, stupidly and shamefully abandoned by this US administration, has nonetheless offered to share its hard-won drone defense capabilities with the US and its allies.
Ukraine would make a better NATO member than Spain, Türkiye, Hungary or the UK. But I’m not sure this incarnation of NATO deserves Ukraine.
I hope something new and better emerges. And that Ukraine is a leading part of it.
Thank you so much for your comment, Mary! We truly appreciate your support and the love you’re sending to Ukraine during such a pivotal time for our country's future!!
Thank you for providing information about Ukraine's continuing struggle to maintain autonomy. Such news would have never made it to the heritage news sites in the US.
Fine reporting on a topic of very limited visibility in the general press, thank you! The lead up to the Hungarian election will be very ugly, xenophobic, and, perhaps, violent - it bears watching also for what it might portend for the government conduct of US midterm elections come November. While I fervently pray for Orban's ouster, it's unfortunately far from certain. Europe (and world) watches.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! It is truly encouraging to see our work reach people who understand the broader stakes of these "hidden" stories. I completely share your concern about the upcoming Hungarian election on April 12, 2026, with Péter Magyar currently posing the most serious challenge to Viktor Orbán in decades, the atmosphere is indeed incredibly tense. Do you see any realistic scenario in which opposition parties could successfully unify their message enough to challenge the current government?
Orban is an odious man. I hope the Putin ally is soundly defeated in the April election but I fear for safe, legal, non-corrupted voting. It should be pointed out that Hungary could receive non-Russian oil, though more expensive, via Croatia.
Do you think the EU will take concrete steps to monitor the April 12th election, or will Orbán’s "anti-war" rhetoric successfully keep his base mobilized?
OSCE announced Feb 26/26 that they will be monitoring the Hungarian election.
Ukraine is getting attacked from all angles and their strength and determination are admirable. I hope they can last a few more months or years when trump and hopefully Orban are out of the picture. The worst of the worst are holding back the best in Ukraine. Iran just declared war against Ukraine and the stupid, addled, dope trump refused Ukrainian help to stop Iranian drones. Such a pathetic group of trump admin are trying to take on the most complex of probes.
Thank you so much for your comment and for sharing your support for Ukraine's resilience during this incredibly difficult time. You're right that the political landscape is shifting quickly.
Do you think the "drone diplomacy" being offered by Ukraine will eventually win over its skeptics in the West, or will the distractions of the new conflict in Iran continue to sideline their efforts?
I think if a nation is smart and is looking toward to future as drone warfare becomes the norm, then Ukraine could do well selling its drone downing technology and strategies. But the US has its military industrial complex and the moneygrubbing defense contractors wouldn't be receiving the taxpayer grift from GOP and trump, so Ukraine would need to find other markets, such as the Gulf States and Having the best technology and capabilities does not always win the contract. American defense contractors could offer inferior equipment and still shut out Ukraine because of lobbyists and pay to play schemes. But the EU and others should definitely take advantage of Ukraines skills against drones.
🤗 That dog is what all of us wish for the people of the world - happy, well fed, appreciated, and safe at present! As for Orban - as someone said above "an odious man" 🤮🤬 Not only putting innocent bank couriers through an horrific experience AND stealing the money, but also trying to turn people against Zelenskyy & the EU itself. IF he gets re-elected I think/hope the EU will expel Hungary, or at least demote them to an associate with no voting power 🤞
And of course Trump is lying about using Ukraine help with combating drones - such a complete disgrace to a once proud nation 🥺
Cindy you are a treasure -- thank you for all your comments, and all the comments from our community here.
When I read about the insane corruption of the 90s, I see how far Ukraine has come and marvel.
It’s not easy to do what they’ve done in just a few decades, and the grit and determination are truly impressive.
This country deserves not just to be in the EU and NATO, but to be their leaders.
Thank you so much for your comment; I really appreciate your recognition of how much we’ve transformed since the 90s.
Do you think Ukraine’s role as a global tutor in drone defense will finally convince Western leaders to bypass the usual bureaucracy and grant us the place in NATO and EU?
Sadly, I don’t think so — bureaucracies being what they are — but they definitely should.
At the same time, Ukraine can very much become part of new institutions and structures, just as Israel has, based on both nations’ indispensability to the security of their regions.
CENTCOM has integrated Israel and its non-Allied Arab neighbors in defense architecture. The Abraham Accords has done the same diplomatically and economically. EUCOM can potentially do the same for Ukraine militarily if the US chooses to integrate it; it would be criminally foolish not to!
I see NATO as less relevant today, given so many members’ insufficient commitment to their own defense and obvious lack of preparedness — e.g., UK. I also think politics have weakened the alliance to a dangerous degree. And some of its members are just treacherous.
Ukraine has shown more military prowess and commitment to world security than Spain, for example, in the current Iran war. The latter has prioritized its venom toward Israel over security for southern Europe, which Iran is currently attacking in Türkiye. And don’t get me started on Putin-hugging Hungary or Hamas-supporting Türkiye!
My ex-husband lived in Spain during his childhood because his US Air Force father was stationed at Rota, a base built for European, not American, defense. The British didn’t want to let US planes use its bases either, the ones that we largely pay for! With friends like that…
Ukraine, which has been largely, stupidly and shamefully abandoned by this US administration, has nonetheless offered to share its hard-won drone defense capabilities with the US and its allies.
Ukraine would make a better NATO member than Spain, Türkiye, Hungary or the UK. But I’m not sure this incarnation of NATO deserves Ukraine.
I hope something new and better emerges. And that Ukraine is a leading part of it.
So grateful for this reporting!
Sending love and prayers every day.
Thank you so much for your comment, Mary! We truly appreciate your support and the love you’re sending to Ukraine during such a pivotal time for our country's future!!
Thank you for providing information about Ukraine's continuing struggle to maintain autonomy. Such news would have never made it to the heritage news sites in the US.
Thank you so much for your comment! We truly appreciate your kind words regarding our reporting.
Fine reporting on a topic of very limited visibility in the general press, thank you! The lead up to the Hungarian election will be very ugly, xenophobic, and, perhaps, violent - it bears watching also for what it might portend for the government conduct of US midterm elections come November. While I fervently pray for Orban's ouster, it's unfortunately far from certain. Europe (and world) watches.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment! It is truly encouraging to see our work reach people who understand the broader stakes of these "hidden" stories. I completely share your concern about the upcoming Hungarian election on April 12, 2026, with Péter Magyar currently posing the most serious challenge to Viktor Orbán in decades, the atmosphere is indeed incredibly tense. Do you see any realistic scenario in which opposition parties could successfully unify their message enough to challenge the current government?