The Hungarian premier has repeatedly called for the end of Russian sanctions. One of the E.U.’s closest Trump allies, Orban has backed the U.S. president’s ambition to end the war swiftly, asserting that the new administration was poised to cut off aid to Ukraine.

Today, our Budapest whisperers preview crucial discussions on extending the EU’s Russia sanctions, which may or may not be held up by Hungary. And our Dublin correspondent describes Micheál Martin’s tempestuous process of taking office as Taoiseach,

The fate of the European Union's sanctions against Russia was questioned after a senior Hungarian official clarified that their renewal by the end of the month should not be automatic and called for "debate,