The Russian invasion

The outside world's response
Sources: Trump has consulted Orbán on the Ukraine war

US President-elect Donald Trump has had several phone conversations with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán since the election win, sources told Radio Free Europe's Hungarian editorial office. Hungarian government sources say Trump consulted Orbán about possible ways to quickly end the war in Ukraine.

Orbán has maintained his close ties with Vladimir Putin during the war, which was shown, among other things, in a state visit to Moscow this summer. In the EU, Hungary's leaders have also tried to stop support packages for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.

According to the channel, it has never happened before that an American president has had such close and regular contact with a Hungarian prime minister. 

EU leaders' first day at work - visit to Kyiv

The European Commission's head of foreign affairs, Kaja Kallas, and the President of the European Council, António Costa, begin their new posts by visiting Ukraine. On Sunday, they both shared photos on social media showing their arrival in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

"During my first visit since taking office, my message is clear: the EU wants Ukraine to win the war. We will do everything necessary for that," writes Kallas on X.

On Sunday, the new EU Commission formally takes office after being approved by the EU Parliament earlier this week.

The battles
Many Ukrainian soldiers have deserted this year

In 2024, Ukrainian prosecutors have handled around 60,000 cases of soldiers who deserted, the Financial Times reports. The number of soldiers who abandoned their positions in the period January to October is higher than in both 2022 and 2023.

The paper points to a specific case in October where hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers serving in the 123rd Brigade left the town of Vuhledar without permission.

- They said there would be 150 tanks. There were only 20... and nothing to cover us, says a disgruntled anonymous brigade officer.

Men drafted into the fighting are prohibited from leaving Ukraine. Deserting or abandoning one's position can lead to 12 years in prison.