Spain's Sánchez hopes for 'loyal cooperation' with US, despite 'extraordinary mistake' of striking Iran
But at this afternoon’s press conference with Portuguese prime minister Luís Montenegro, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez struck a more conciliatory tone towards the US saying that “loyal cooperation” should prevail over “confrontation,” AFP reported.
Relations should take place “with respect, in a spirit of loyal cooperation and on an equal footing,” he said.
While he continued to be critical of the US and Israeli decision to strike Iran, calling it “an extraordinary mistake” in violation of international law, he said:
“Between allied countries, it is good to help when the other is right, but also to tell them when they are wrong or make a mistake, as is the case here.”
Spain's Sánchez doubles down on his 'no to war' message on Iran conflict
in Madrid
Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has followed Wednesday’s televised address, in which he bluntly criticised Trump’s strikes on Iran – and the reasons behind them – with an opinion piece in the Economist magazine (£).
Broadly speaking, it’s a riff on that very arresting speech.
In the opinion piece, he reminds readers of how one of his conservative predecessors, José María Aznar, dragged Spain into the deeply unpopular 2003 invasion of Iraq:
“The rest is history. A sad one. The Iraq war lasted eight years. It claimed the lives of 300,000 people, most of whom were innocent civilians, and plunged the entire Middle East into worsening instability. It also triggered the worst wave of insecurity Europe had faced since the fall of the Berlin Wall, contributing to a massive surge in terrorism, a migration crisis and price rises that eroded the purchasing power of millions of households. A war presented as a mission to spread democracy and peace delivered exactly the opposite.
Today we face a similar situation, and my government’s position is the same that the Spanish society voiced two decades ago: NO TO WAR. No to the unilateral violation of international law. No to repeating the mistakes of the past. No to the idea that the world’s problems can be solved with bombs.”
Sánchez stressed that his opposition to Trump’s new war did not spring from “any antipathy towards the American administration, and even less from sympathy for Iran’s brutal regime”.
(Although we might take the former claim with a pinch of salt given some of the more withering passages in Wednesday’s speech).
He said his stance was instead motivated by the conviction that “the war is illegal, a major threat to the rules-based international order, and contrary to the interests of humanity”.
Sánchez concludes:
“Some will say our aspiration is naive. But what is truly naive is believing that an escalating exchange of drones and missiles like what we are witnessing will lead to anything good. What is naive is to think that democracy and stability will emerge from the ashes. History has already tested that formula – and it does not work.”
You can read more on Sánchez’s lonely stance in this piece, which I wrote with my colleagues Angelique Chrisafis, Deborah Cole and Lorenzo Tondo.
Hungary 'demands answers from Ukraine's leadership' over cash, gold cargo
Balázs Orbán, the political director in PM Viktor Orbán’s office, said Hungary will “demand answers from Ukraine’s leadership” over “who stands behind this money and what is it meant to finance.”
Posting pictures of the money and gold allegedly transported by the Ukrainian bank delegation, he said that “Hungarian authorities have launched a full investigation” into the incident, looking into possible money laundering offences.
He added:
“What makes this even more alarming is that since January more than $900m, €420m and 146 kg of gold have reportedly been transported through Hungary toward Ukraine.
Armored vehicles full of cash and gold moving across Hungary is not how legitimate financial transactions usually work.”
Ukraine says it opened 'criminal proceedings' into Hungarian stop of bank employees, vehicles
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s National Police has opened “criminal proceedings” into what it says was a “hostage” situation involving the seven employees and the two vehicles of Oschadbank stopped by Hungary, the Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs said.
“The case has been registered under articles on illegal deprivation of liberty/kidnapping and hostage-taking. Ukrainian police have filed official requests to Europol, Hungary’s tax and customs service, and Hungarian police. The investigation is ongoing,” it said in a statement.
Italy's Salvini, Germany's Weidel back Orbán in clash with Zelenskyy
Meanwhile, more far-right European leaders have expressed their sympathies with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán over recent comments from Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (10:17).
Italian deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini from the far-right Lega party said he wanted to express with “solidarity with our friend and patriot” and “concern and condemnation for interferences and threats from foreign countries.”
He said he would soon travel to Budapest to “testify to our closeness and support” for Orbán.
Alice Weidel, co-chair of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland, also reposted Orbán’s social media post with a brief comment condemning Zelenskyy’s words.
Slovak prime minister Robert Fico, whose country is also involved in a dispute with Ukraine over the Druzbha pipeline, offered his support last night.
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Referendum question to be 'Should negotiations on Iceland’s accession to the European Union continue?'
During today’s press conference, we also got a glimpse of what the exact phrasing of the Icelandic referendum question could be, with foreign minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir offering this explanation:
“We intend to ask the nation the following question: ’Should negotiations on Iceland’s accession to the European Union continue?’ And then the nation can answer with two options: ’Yes, negotiations should continue’, or ’No, they should not continue’,” she said, via AFP.
Majority of Icelandic voters support resuming talks with EU, new poll says
Nearly six out of ten Icelandic voters support resuming accession talks with the European Union, with around a third opposed, a new poll showed.
The Gallup poll, conducted in late February and early March, said that 57% were in favour of the talks restarting, with just over thirty percent opposed, and 12% undecided, RUV reported.
But worth remembering that this is just a vote on restarting the talks – the final deal would then be subject to another referendum before Iceland’s potential accession to the bloc.
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Final deal with EU would be put to another referendum, Icelandic prime minister says
Icelandic prime minister Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir told reporters that the referendum would only decide on the reopening of the accession talks with the EU, with the final deal then put for another vote, Icelandic broadcaster RUV noted.
She was quoted as saying that model offered a “double safety valve,” allowing people to vote in favour of talks to explore available options, without committing to the membership just yet.
The prime minister also said that Iceland is in a “completely different position” to when it originally submitted its application in 2009, and has a much stronger negotiating position, RUV said.
As guidance, foreign minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir said should the referendum return a yes result, the talks could resume towards the end of the year, and would primarily focus on most difficult issues on natural resources.
The Icelandic leaders also expressed concerns about possible foreign interference, particularly from Russia.
The draft resolution will be put to Icelandic parliament next week.
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Iceland hopes to reopen accession talks terminated in 2015 - context
Back to Iceland, for a bit of context.
The motion proposes to hold a referendum to reopen the accession talks, which were opened during the great financial crisis in 2009 and terminated in 2015, when the government of the day concluded that “Iceland’s interests are better served outside the European Union.”
When Iceland’s accession negotiations were paused, 27 of the 33 chapters had been opened, and 11 had been concluded, AFP noted.
Today’s announcement is not surprising as there had been growing suggestions that Iceland was working towards holding a referendum on the issue.
The Icelandic prime minister Kristrún Mjöll Frostadóttir said last week in Warsaw that it was a matter of “months” before the vote would be held.
But looking at public opinion polls, the outcome of the entire process – not just the referendum on reopening the talks, but a potential follow-up vote on the accession - is far from certain.
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European Commission criticises 'not acceptable' Zelenskyy's apparent threat against Orbán
Oh-oh.
The European Commission has until now tried to remain very diplomatic on managing the growing spat between Hungary and Ukraine.
But its deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill has just sharply criticised Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his yesterday’s comment which appeared to be a form of threat against Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán (10:17).
Gill said:
“We are very clear as the European Commission that that type of language is not acceptable, there must not be threats against EU member states.”
He also said that “there is a lot of escalating rhetoric and inflammatory rhetoric,” adding:
“We believe that such rhetoric from all sides is neither helpful nor conducive to achieving the common goals we all have here.”
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'Significant decisions lies ahead for Icelandic people,' EU enlargement commission says on referendum date
EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos welcomed the news on the Icelandic referendum on EU accession talks, saying “a significant decision lies ahead for the Icelandic people.”
In the statement, published by Icelandic state broadcaster RUV, says:
“A significant decision lies ahead for the Icelandic people.”
The geopolitical context is fundamentally different today than when Iceland first applied for membership.
Iceland is already a strong and strategic partner. They are also part of our internal market.
Iceland’s priorities are well known. In a world of competing spheres of influence, EU membership offers an anchor into a bloc grounded in values, prosperity and security.”
“Negotiations on EU membership are specific to each country and we take the candidate countries’ realities into account.”
EU says 'no comment' on latest escalation between Hungary and Ukraine
Meanwhile, the European Commission said at its midday briefing declined to comment on the latest escalation between Hungary and Ukraine at this stage.
Internal affairs spokesperson Markus Lammert said:
“We are aware of the media reports on this matter. We have no additional information on the reported events for now, and I therefore have no comments to offer at this stage.”
The commission’s deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill added that “there is far too much hypothethical stuff going on” in questions and declined to “go into speculation.”
Iceland proposes referendum on resuming EU accession talks in August
Icelandic foreign minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir submitted a government motion for a referendum on resuming accession talks with the European Union, proposing the vote should take place on 29 August, state broadcaster RUV has reported.
The draft resolution will be put to Icelandic parliament for approval next week.
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Hungary's actions 'reminiscent of 1990s era Moscow,' Ukrainian prime minister says
Ukraine’s prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko accused Hungary of “taking seven Ukrainians hostage in a method reminiscent of 1990’s era Moscow” in a further escalation of tensions between Kyiv and Budapest.
She said it “would be a bit surprising if it hadn’t come just a few days after the Orban entourage’s visit to the Kremlin.”
Hungarian foreign minister Péter Szijjártó was in Moscow on Thursday, meeting with Russia’s president Vladimir Putin to discuss the issue of energy security.
“The Ukrainian government is demanding an immediate release of our citizens. We will take appropriate action to hold those responsible for their detention accountable. We also urge our partners to react strongly. Such arbitrary detentions demand clear international condemnation,” Svyrydenko said.
Bank of Ukraine sending team to Budapest over seven detained men
Meanwhile, National Bank of Ukraine governor, Andriy Pyshnyy, said that his deputy and the bank’s team were travelling to Budapest to “clarify the circumstances” of the detention of the seven Ukrainian men involved in the transit.
“We’re appealing to international partners and regulators. We demand official explanations from Hungarian authorities,” he said.
Hungary to expel seven men detained with Ukraine's cash, gold shipments, spokesperson says
The seven Ukrainian men detained by the Hungarian tax and customs authorities will be “expelled from Hungary,” the Hungarian government’s international spokesman Zoltán Kovács said.
He said that the authorities found that “the operation was supervised by a former general of the Ukrainian Security Service, with a former major of the Ukrainian Air Force acting as deputy and assisted by individuals with military experience.”
“Based on these findings, all seven individuals will be expelled from Hungary,” he said.
Hungary's opposition leader urges Zelenskyy to withdraw Orbán comments
Meanwhile, the leader of the Hungarian opposition, Péter Magyar, sided with Orbán in his criticism of Zelenskyy’s comments, which appeared to include a threat against him (10:17).
Speaking at a rally of his Tisza party, currently leading in the polls ahead of next month’s elections, he said:
“The Ukrainian president has threatened prime minister Viktor Orbán. Let me make it clear that no one, not a single Hungarian, can be threatened by a foreign head of state. Not the outgoing Orban government, nor the future Tisza government, not a single Hungarian.
So during my campaign tour, I call on the Ukrainian president to clarify his words, and, if he really said that, then to withdraw it.”
Meanwhile, Poland’s foreign minister Radosław Sikorski taunted Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán on social media, responding to a separate media report alleging that Russian military intelligence GRU is expected to be involved in running a pro-government campaign ahead of next month’s parliamentary election in Hungary.
“To get electoral support simultaneously from Maga and GRU is no mean feat. But is Viktor fighting for Hungarian sovereignty or volunteering to make it a condominium?,” he asked.
Ukraine advises against travel to Hungary after arrest of bank staff
On the back of the detention of seven Ukrainian citizens, Ukraine’s foreign ministry said it advises Ukrainians against travel to Hungary “due to the inability to guarantee their safety amid arbitrary actions by the Hungarian authorities.”
Expect them to try to raise it with the EU in the coming hours.
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Ukraine demands 'immediate release' of seven detained citizens, foreign minister says
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said that “Ukrainian consuls have still not been permitted access to the seven Ukrainian citizens taken hostage in Budapest.”
“The Hungarian side has not provided any explanation. We demand their immediate release and prepare next actions, including at the EU level,” he added.
Hungary confirms detaining seven people as part of alleged money laundering probe
The Hungarian tax authority has just confirmed it detained seven people and two cash-in-transit vehicles coming from Austria towards Ukraine, saying it is pursuing criminal proceedings on suspicion of money laundering.
The contents of their transit has also been confirmed as per earlier statement by Ukraine’s state-owned Oschadbank.
But the authority pointedly said that one of the seven men arrested was a former general of the Ukrainian intelligence services, Hungarian media reported.
In a statement quoted by Index.hu, the authority claimed it had informed the Ukrainian consular authorities of the move, but received no response.
Morning opening: Tensions between Hungary and Ukraine grow ahead of key election
Hungary will use “every means” to force a favourable solution in an escalating row with neighbouring Ukraine over stalled Russian oil supplies to Budapest and Bratislava, prime minister Viktor Orbán this morning.
His comments come as the neighbouring countries are locked in dispute over the temporary closure of the Druzhba pipeline which pumps Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, and which Kyiv says was damaged by Russian strikes in January.
In response, Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán blocked the payment of a €90bn EU loan to Ukraine and adoption of the latest round of sanctions against Russia last month.
But in recent weeks, the tensions grew further, with Orbán regularly using disparaging references to Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his domestic campaign ahead of next month’s high-stakes parliamentary election, which could see him out of power after 16 years.
Yesterday, Orbán accused Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy of threatening him after the Ukrainian president told a government meeting in Kyiv:
“We hope that one person in the European Union will not block the €90bn and that Ukrainian fighters will receive weapons; otherwise, we will give this person’s address to our guys so they can call him and speak to him in their language.”
Orbán said on social media that Zelenskyy’s words were “not about me – he is threatening Hungary.”
Later in the evening, Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha claimed Hungary “took hostage” seven employees of a state-owned Ukrainian bank Oschadbank who were transporting $40m, €35m and 9 kg of gold from Austria to Ukraine via Hungary.
“The reasons are still unknown, as well as their current wellbeing, or the possibility of contacting them,” he said.
Oschadbank confirmed that their vehicle’s GPS indicated it was parked near a law enforcement agency in central Budapest. It demanded the immediate release of its employees and property.
But this morning Orbán went further, telling state radio that Hungary would be prepared to stop all shipments for Ukraine going through its territory.
“The Ukrainians will run out of money sooner than we run out of oil,” he said.
He was also publicly backed by Slovak prime minister Robert Fico, who urged senior EU leaders to “distance themselves from these outrageous blackmailing statements” by Zelenskyy.
Let’s see what comes out of that.
I will also keep an eye on the latest on European evacuation flights from the Middle East and on Cyprus.
It’s Friday, 6 March 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
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