Budapest and Kyiv break the ice

Brussels Playbook Podcast

POLITICO

News, News Commentary, Politics

4.4 • 202 Ratings

🗓️ 19 May 2026

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After years of Hungary’s former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocking Ukraine’s path to join the EU, Budapest and Kyiv are talking again. That has Brussels wondering if Hungary might finally be softening its position on Ukrainian accession. Today on the pod, Nick and Ian discuss why joining the bloc is so important to the war-torn nation and why — even if the mood is shifting in Budapest — it’s unlikely to change overnight. Also on the show, EU Commissioner Jozef Síkela is heading to Nuuk for a conference called Future Greenland. It’s all part of the EU’s attempt to court the Arctic island as Donald Trump continues to exert his influence. And finally: Bono, Angela Merkel and “The Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo will receive the European Parliament’s brand-new Order of Merit awards. Who would you nominate for the awards? Send us a message on our WhatsApp here or at +32 491 05 06 29. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Changes in sexual performance are more common than most people realize, and support doesn't
0:04.0	need to feel awkward.
0:06.0	With MedExpress, everything happens privately online.
0:09.4	Start by completing a short consultation reviewed by UK registered clinicians.
0:13.4	If eligible, treatment is delivered discreetly to your home with ongoing support whenever
0:17.8	you need it.
0:18.9	You're not alone in this.
0:20.5	Visit Medexpress.com.
0:21.8	dot UK slash podcast to learn more. Good morning. It's Tuesday the 19th of May and this is the Brussels
0:28.9	Playbook podcast. The vibe in Brussels today is thawing because after years of Victor Orban blocking Ukraine's
0:43.8	EU path, Hungary and Ukraine are going to talk to each other today.
0:48.0	And Brussels is wondering whether Budapest might finally be softening its position.
0:52.9	Also on the podcast today, the EU is getting all
0:55.1	cosy with Greenland, despite, or rather probably because of Trump's America, keep on circling the
1:01.2	Arctic Island. And thirdly, what the pop star Bono, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel,
1:07.6	and Janis Antetocombo, otherwise known as the Greek freak apparently, have in common.
1:13.2	We'll keep listening to find that and we'll tell you in a few minutes.
1:16.2	I'm Ian Wishart and with me today is Nick Vinica, Politico's chief foreign correspondent.
1:21.5	Hello, Nick.
1:22.3	I think you deserve a round of applause for that pronunciation.
1:25.1	You just you just said you knew how to pronounce his name
1:27.8	because? Because Lil Wayne famously wraps onto Ticumpo with something else for our hip-hop fans out there.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 12 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from POLITICO, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of POLITICO and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.