Hungary

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed confidence that GERB leader Boyko Borissov would successfully form a government and bring stability to Bulgaria. During a visit to Sofia, Orban described Borissov as a good friend and commended the recent political developments in Bulgaria as promising.

Poland summoned the Hungarian ambassador and recalled the Polish ambassador in Budapest for consultations in reaction to the granting of asylum by Budapest to Polish former Deputy Minister of Justice Marcyn Romanowski, announced the Polish Foreign Ministry.

President Rumen Radev emphasized the shared understanding between Bulgaria and Hungary that achieving peace on the continent is essential for Europe's future. Speaking after his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Radev stated that peace is a prerequisite for security and the socio-economic development of Europe.

The United States has granted an exemption to Turkey and Hungary, allowing them to continue making payments for Russian natural gas supplied through Gazprombank, despite the sanctions imposed on the Russian bank.

The United States has exempted Türkiye from sanctions imposed on Russia's Gazprombank JSC, thereby allowing Ankara to proceed with its natural gas payments, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar has announced.

Bulgaria has received the full payment for Russian natural gas transit for December, according to Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov. He explained that there has been no official confirmation from the US administration regarding the lifting of sanctions against Gazprombank, adding that the situation remains uncertain.

Turkey has received an exemption for gas payments to Russia after the United States imposed sanctions on Gazprombank, Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar said on Friday in response to a question from Reuters.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the agreement reached by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to admit Bulgaria and Romania to the Schengen Area by land, calling it a significant step.

The Hungarian government has offered asylum to a Polish former deputy minister in the previous government of the right-wing populist Law and Justice Party (PiS), Budapest announced yesterday (Thursday).

Authorities in Poland issued a European arrest warrant for former Justice Minister Marcyn Romanowski the day before yesterday, Wednesday.

Caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev has sought approval from the National Assembly to sign a security cooperation agreement with Ukraine. His request was made through a letter to the Speaker of Parliament, Natalia Kiselova, and distributed to all parliamentary groups, as confirmed by a press release from the Council of Ministers.