The Dispatch

Czechs ship tanks, rocket launchers, artillery to Ukraine

The Czech Republic has delivered tanks, multiple rocket launchers, howitzers and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine among military shipments that have reached hundreds of millions of dollars and will continue,…

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Slovakia sends its air defence system to Ukraine

Slovakia has donated its S-300 air defence system to Ukraine, Prime Minister Eduard Heger revealed, after the United States said more than 30 countries were increasing military aid to Kyiv.…

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Poland charges two persons with spying for Belarus

Prosecutors in Poland have charged two men detained by the country’s military police and suspected of spying for Belarus. The two suspects, both Belarusian nationals, have been remanded in custody…

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UPDATED: Russian facing most difficult situation in three decades, PM says

April 7 (Reuters) - Russia is facing its most difficult situation in three decades due to unprecedented Western sanctions, but foreign attempts to isolate it from the global economy will fail, Prime…

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Hungary’s foreign ministry summons Ukrainian envoy over ‘insults’

BUDAPEST, April 6 (Reuters) - Hungary's foreign ministry summoned Ukraine's ambassador on Wednesday over what it called offensive comments from Kyiv regarding Budapest's stance on Russia's invasion. Foreign Minister Peter…

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Ukrainian and Polish central banks have signed $1 bln hryvnia-dollar swap deal

April 6 (Reuters) - Ukraine's central bank has signed a $1-billion hryvnia-dollar swap deal with Poland's central bank, the deputy governor of the National Bank of Ukraine said in an interview with…

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EU executive in new bid to cut funds to Hungary for weakening democracy

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union executive started a new disciplinary procedure against Hungary on Tuesday in a step that could lead to freezing funding for Prime Minister Viktor Orban for undercutting…

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Poland signs deal for purchase of 250 Abrams tanks

Poland signed a deal with Washington to purchase 250 Abrams tanks as it seeks to bolster its military in an effort to deter potential Russian aggression on its eastern border.…

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Czech Republic sends tanks, infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine

The Czech Republic has sent T-72 tanks and BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, a Czech defence source told Reuters, confirming a local media report. Public broadcaster Czech Television initially…

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Man dies crashing car into Russian embassy in Romanian capital

BUCHAREST, April 6 (Reuters) - A driver died ramming his car into the gate of the Russian embassy in Bucharest early on Wednesday, police in the Romanian capital said in…

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Poland blocks EU compromise on global minimum corporate tax deal

Poland on Tuesday blocked a French-proposed compromise on how to implement a minimum corporate tax across the European Union in another blow to a global overhaul of international tax rules.…

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Five killed, more than 10 injured as truck crashes into train in Hungary

Five people were killed and more than 10 injured when a pick-up truck crashed into a train in southern Hungary early on Tuesday, derailing a carriage, police said. The accident…

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MEPs want EU to consider freezing Hungary funding after OSCE finds unfair playing field in elections

Two members of the European parliament called on the European Commission to launch the “rule of law conditionality mechanism” against Hungary, a legal process that would see Budapest deprived of…

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Zelenskiy: Hungary’s Orban will have to choose between Russia and ‘other world’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban would have to choose between Moscow and the "other world", and that the Hungarian leader feared Russian influence.…

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Orban’s victory puts Hungary on collision course with EU

Emboldened by a fourth consecutive landslide election victory, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is expected to dig in against energy sanctions on Russia and toughen his stance in talks with…

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Germany is the main roadblock for tougher Russian sanctions, Poland’s PM says

WARSAW, April 4 (Reuters) - Germany is the main roadblock to imposing tougher sanctions on Russia, Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday during a news conference, adding that Hungary was…

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Orban scores crushing victory as Ukraine war solidifies support

BUDAPEST, April 4 (Reuters) - Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban scored a fourth consecutive landslide win in Sunday's election, as voters endorsed his ambition of a conservative, "illiberal" state and shrugged off concerns over Budapest's…

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FACTBOX – What has changed in Hungary during Orban’s 12-year rule

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party face their first closely-contested election on April 3 after three consecutive landslide victories since 2010. During his 12-year rule Orban has…

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UPDATED: Kaczynski says “open” to having nuclear weapons in Poland

WARSAW, April 3 (Reuters) - Poland would welcome a 50% increase in the number of U.S. troops in Europe, the leader of the country's ruling party said in comments published…

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Orban seeks re-election for fourth consecutive term, War in Ukraine has upset campaign

BUDAPEST, April 3 (Reuters) - The odds are slightly in favour of Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban, one of Europe's longest-serving leaders, extending his 12-year rule in an election on Sunday,…

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Orban’s dream of two decades in power hangs in the balance in Hungarian ballot

After his third consecutive landslide victory in 2018, Hungary's Viktor Orban said his strong new mandate allowed him to plan for 12 years ahead, aiming for an unbroken two-decade spell…

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Poland welcomed 2.39 million refugees from Ukraine, to host global fundraiser for Ukraine in April

Poland has taken in 2.39 million refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish Border Guard agency reported. "Since February 24, a total of 2,393,000 people have crossed into Poland from Ukraine," it said in a tweet. On Wednesday, 25,500 refugees from Ukraine arrived…

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Poland plans to stop using Russian oil by end of year, says PM

Poland plans to slap an embargo on Russian coal imports by May and stop using Russian oil by the end of 2022, its prime minister said on Wednesday, as Warsaw moves to cut economic…

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Hungary rights groups urge invalid votes to defeat Orban’s LGBTQ referendum

Hungarian human rights groups are urging voters to spoil their ballots to defeat a government referendum on LGBTQ issues taking place alongside a national election on Sunday, saying its approval…

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Biden to call on ‘free world’ to stand against Putin in Poland speech

WARSAW, March 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden will argue in a speech in Poland on Saturday that the "free world" opposes Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that there is unity…

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In Poland, Biden visits U.S. troops on NATO eastern flank

ZESZOW, Poland, March 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday got a firsthand look at international efforts to help some of the millions of Ukrainian war refugees in Poland, and…

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Polish PM proposes personal income tax rate cut

WARSZAWA, March 24 (Reuters) - Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Thursday proposed legislation to lower the personal income tax rate from 17% to 12% in response to the economic impact from…

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Russian ambassador says Poland blocked his embassy’s bank accounts

March 24 (Reuters) - Russia's ambassador to Warsaw said on Thursday that Poland had blocked the Russian embassy's bank accounts on the basis that they might be used to finance terrorist activity or launder money. "Our accounts have been…

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Orban’s Fidesz extends lead over Hungary opposition to two percentage points – poll

BUDAPEST, March 23 (Reuters) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz party extended its lead to two percentage points over an opposition alliance in a mid-March survey ahead of…

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Poland detains Russian spy, set to expel 45 Russian diplomats they accuse of spying

Poland’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) has detained a man suspected of spying for Russia, officials said on Wednesday. The individual, an employee with Warsaw’s Civil Registration Office, was detained on…

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Neutral Swiss rule out arms deliveries to Poland

Swiss neutrality rules out delivering weapons to Poland, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said on Monday during a visit to Ukraine's neighbour. "Poland's first wish is actually for arms deliveries. But that is not…

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Poland wants to amend constitution to raise spending on defence

WARSAW, March 21 (Reuters) - The Polish government wants to amend the constitution so that it can raise defence expenditure and confiscate Russian oligarchs' assets following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a government…

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Over 2 million people have fled Ukraine for Poland

More than 2.1 million people have fled Ukraine for Poland - 2,114,000 since the war began - the Polish Border Guard said on Monday. Numbers crossing are falling, however. On…

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UPDATED: Switzerland must freeze Russian oligarchs’ accounts, says Polish PM

WARSAW, March 21 (Reuters) - Switzerland must freeze the accounts of Russian oligarchs in the country and confiscate their assets, the Polish prime minister said on Monday during a visit to Warsaw…

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Slovakia starts deploying Patriot air defence system

The Patriot air defence system has started arriving in Slovakia from NATO partner countries and the deployment will continue in the coming days, Slovakia's defence minister said on Sunday. The…

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Polish central bank programme to allow Ukrainians to convert cash

Ukrainians in Poland will be able to convert hryvnia bank notes into Polish zlotys from the middle of next week as part of a programme involving the central bank, the…

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EU likely to approve Poland’s recovery plan, but money to come later

WARSAW/BRUSSELS, March 18 (Reuters) - The European Commission could soon approve Poland's coronavirus recovery plan, but Warsaw might only get billions in EU money months later once it satisfies rule-of-law concerns and…

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UPDATED: U.N. refugee agency says fewer Ukrainians fleeing

GENEVA, March 18 (Reuters) - The number of people crossing borders to flee the war in Ukraine has slowed in recent days but could rise again if the fighting spreads…

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Poland to propose Ukraine peacekeeping mission at NATO summit, says PM

WARSAW, March 18 (Reuters) - Poland will formally submit a proposal for a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine at the next NATO summit, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Friday. Poland's ruling party…

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Factbox: Sweden or Austria as military model for Ukraine neutrality

Ukraine could become a non-aligned or neutral state like Sweden or Austria, Russia said on Wednesday, as it seeks a compromise with Kyiv to end three weeks of war. Here…

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UPDATED: UK to deploy Sky Sabre missile defence system in Poland, says minister

WARSAW, March 17 (Reuters) - Britain will deploy its Sky Sabre missile system in Poland, its defence minister said on Thursday during a visit to Warsaw, as NATO moves to beef up…

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More than 3 million refugees have fled Ukraine, UN says; Hungary PM flags arrival of “bigger wave” of Ukraine refugees

According to UN estimates, more than three million people have fled Ukraine since Russia invaded on 24 February. Most have sought refuge in neighbouring Poland, arriving to the border by…

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The number of Ukrainians who’ve fled to Poland is equal to the population of Warsaw

About 3 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in February, the United Nations says — a remarkable pace that has placed Ukraine among the world's worst refugee…

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UPDATED: Polish, Czech and Slovenian PMs back in Poland after Kyiv trip, says spokesperson

WARSAW, March 16 (Reuters) - The delegations including the prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have arrived in Poland after their visit to Kyiv, a Polish government spokesperson said…

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Poland says attack near Polish border aimed at creating panic, Dutch foreign fighters among victims

WARSAW, March 14 (Reuters) - A Russian attack on a large Ukrainian base near the border with NATO member Poland was aimed at creating panic among the civilian population, Polish…

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Poland’s Duda says NATO will have to think seriously if Putin uses chemical weapons

LONDON, March 13 (Reuters) - Poland's President Andrzej Duda said in an interview on Sunday that the use of chemical weapons in Ukraine by Russia would be a game changer and NATO…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: Almamellek , Hungary

A forest train runs between Almamellek and Sasret through the hills of Zselic region along the Almamellek State Forest Railway Line. PHOTO - EPA-EFE/Tamas Soki

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Polish PM, US vice president discuss support for Ukraine, NATO’s eastern flank

Poland’s prime minister on Thursday hosted the United States vice president and the pair discussed strengthening the eastern flank of the NATO alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mateusz Morawiecki…

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Conservative ruling party’s Novak to become Hungary’s first woman president

BUDAPEST, March 10 (Reuters) - Hungary's parliament elected ruling Fidesz party lawmaker Katalin Novak as the country's first woman president on Thursday, buttressing Prime Minister Viktor Orban's nationalist agenda which has triggered…

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EP calls on Commission to stop EU funding for countries failing on rule of law

The European Parliament strongly called on the European Commission to apply the Rule of Law Conditionality Mechanism by notifying the member states concerned in writing, a move which will raise…

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Despite refugee crisis, Poland and Hungary must still abide with rule of law provisions – Weber

Poland and Hungary's efforts to welcome hundreds and thousands of refugees is commendable, but that should not exonerate them from respecting the values which are upheld by the European Union,…

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Ukrainians fleeing fighting arrive in Poland in record numbers

MEDYKA, Poland, March 6 (Reuters) - Record numbers of refugees headed into Poland from Ukraine with the total number expected to surpass 1 million people later on Sunday as Russian…

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UPDATED: Ukraine exodus is fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since WW2 – UNHCR chief

LONDON, March 6 (Reuters) - More than 1.5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed into neighbouring countries in the space of 10 days, the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World…

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Former Austrian chancellor leaves Lukoil job over Ukraine

BERLIN, March 4 (Reuters) - Former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel is stepping down from his position on the board of Russian energy giant Lukoil, the latest Western politician to distance himself from…

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More than 90,000 crossed into Slovakia from Ukraine since invasion

Slovakia has registered 90,329 people crossing its border from Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24, police said on Friday. In the previous 24 hours to Friday morning,…

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Poland arrests Spanish national suspected of spying for Russia

WARSAW, March 4 (Reuters) - Poland has arrested a Spanish national of Russian origin on suspicion of participating in foreign intelligence activities, the Internal Security Agency (ABW) said on Friday.…

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Hungary will not veto EU sanctions on Russia

BUDAPEST, March 3 (Reuters) - Hungary will not veto European Union sanctions against Russia and the unity of the 27-member bloc is paramount given the war in Ukraine, which Hungary condemns unequivocally,…

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