Orban: Venezuela “good news” for Hungary & Putin "fears" condemning US action

Day 1,411.


Today, as the world reacts to America’s operation in Venezuela
over the weekend, we explore Moscow’s notably muted response
- a silence that hints at the tension inside the Kremlin
between defending an ally and condemning US action, risking
Donald Trump’s wrath, or quietly applauding an example of
international intervention. We also hear from Hungary, where
Francis puts questions to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.


Contributors


Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls
on X.


Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley
on X.


James Kilner (Russia Analyst). @jkjourno on X


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CONTENT REFERENCED:


Telegraph Live Blog (featuring updates from Francis in Budapest):


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/05/venezuela-latest-news-nicolas-maduro-court-new-york/ 


Luxury SUV taken from Latvian drunk driver now among 21 vehicles
bound for Ukraine military (Euromaidan):


https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/01/04/luxury-suv-taken-from-latvian-drunk-driver-now-among-21-vehicles-bound-for-ukraine-military/


The weightlifting champion jailed by Russia for ‘plotting
sabotage and assassinations’ (The Guardian):


https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/05/yulia-lemeshchenko-weightlifting-champion-jailed-by-russia-for-plotting-sabotage-and-assassinations 


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