**Estonia’s Foreign Minister Accuses Hungary of Being on “Putin’s Team”**
In an interview with a German newspaper, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna made some bold claims about Hungary’s relationship with Russia. According to him, Hungary is essentially on the same team as Russian President Vladimir Putin, rather than being part of the European Union.
Tsahkna’s comments come at a time when Hungary has been maintaining good relations with Russia, despite the EU’s sanctions against Moscow. The country’s Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, recently visited Moscow to discuss economic cooperation between the two nations.
Tsahkna is calling for a “coalition of the willing” to be established in the EU, which would allow countries like Estonia and the UK to take action against Russia without being held back by Hungary’s voting power. He believes that this coalition should be able to deploy peacekeeping forces in Ukraine to enforce a potential ceasefire.
The Estonian Foreign Minister also hinted that Hungary might lose its voting rights in the EU if it continues to oppose sanctions against Russia and aid for Ukraine. This is possible under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, which allows for the withdrawal of a member state’s voting rights if its membership endangers the security of Europe.
**Ukraine Updates**
In other news from Ukraine, a series of explosions rocked the capital city of Kyiv early in the morning on April 6. Three people were injured, and the cause of the blasts is still unclear.
The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense, with fighting reported near several cities, including Pokrovsk, Lyman, Toretsk, and Kursk. A residential area was hit by Russian Shahed drones in Mykolaiv, causing a fire to break out in two buildings.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for stronger action against Russia, saying that the world needs to put “real pressure” on Moscow to end the war. He also expressed disappointment with the US Embassy‘s response to Russia’s attack on Kryvyi Rih, which killed 19 people and injured 68.
**Global Response**
The international community is still trying to come together in response to Russia’s actions. NATO representatives are demanding an immediate response from Russian President Vladimir Putin to a ceasefire deal that has already been agreed upon by the US and Ukraine.
European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas expressed outrage at another “reckless Russian attack” on a residential area in Ukraine, saying that Moscow shows no interest in peace.
French President Emmanuel Macron is getting ready to take on a more prominent role in negotiations with Putin. The two leaders will likely have a lot to discuss, given the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Russia’s involvement in it.
**Other Developments**
In other news, Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen warned that Europe cannot afford a disjointed transition in defense capabilities, which could give Russia an opportunity to exploit gaps in regional security.
The US Treasury Secretary claimed that Russia is not making any money from its economic partnership with Hungary, contrary to what some might think. This came after reports emerged of a neo-Nazi terrorist group linked to Russia offering locals payment to carry out attacks in Ukraine.
As for Elon Musk’s social media platform X, it may face fines exceeding $1 billion for violating the EU’s Digital Services Act. The New York Times reported this on April 4, citing sources familiar with the matter.
President Zelensky also mentioned that Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev has been visiting several countries to try and unlock frozen Russian assets.
Finally, Ukrainians who entered the US after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 received emails saying that their legal status would be terminated.