The Monocle Daily: Why Hungary is Being Accused of Undermining Support for Ukraine (Feb 26, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Monocle Daily, host Andrew Muller is joined by Marta Lorimer (lecturer in politics, Cardiff University) and Michael Binion (foreign affairs specialist, The Times) to dissect the day's most pressing international stories. The principal theme centers on Hungary's controversial relationship with Ukraine, particularly its recent moves to block EU aid to Kyiv and ongoing energy disputes. The panel also delves into escalating US-Iran tensions, shifting pet ownership patterns in Japan, bizarre urban planning in Mumbai, and the re-emergence of Austrian Habsburg nostalgia.

1. Hungary’s Role in Undermining Support for Ukraine

Segment Start: [03:41]
Key Discussion Points:

• Viktor Orban's Actions:

  • Orban accuses Ukraine of energy blackmail and imposes vetoes on critical EU measures—namely, fresh sanctions against Moscow and a €90 billion loan package for Ukraine ([03:41]).
  • Speculation that Orban’s stance is motivated by domestic electoral concerns, with polls hinting at possible political upheaval ([03:41]).

• Hungary-Ukraine Energy Dispute:

  • Orban claims Ukraine is deliberately stalling repairs on the Druzhba pipeline, stoking conspiracy and tension ([03:41]).
  • Panel skepticism about the plausibility and intent behind Ukraine’s actions—whether it’s strategic revenge or genuine logistical difficulty for a country at war ([05:21]).
    • "I would kind of respect Ukraine if they were holding up the Russian gas for Hungary..." – Marta Lorimer ([05:39])

• Dependence on Russian Energy:

  • While most EU states moved to reduce reliance on Russian supplies post-2022, Hungary actively maintains its connections ([07:16]).
  • Orban’s shift from a young liberal reformer to a Putin apologist is highlighted, provoking bafflement ([07:56]).
    • "He was the liberal future of Eastern Europe..." – Michael Binion ([07:56])
    • "...he just goes where the money is." – Anonymous Baltic Minister, relayed by Andrew Muller ([08:04])

• Regional Sympathy and Alternatives:

  • Some empathy for Hungary and Slovakia’s landlocked predicament, but criticism for lack of real effort to diversify energy sources ([08:43]).
    • "...both of them with governments that are not making their lives any easier...they haven't really put much effort in..." – Marta Lorimer ([08:43])

• Prospect of Political Change:

  • Even with possible election loss, Orban may find ways to retain power, continuing to frustrate EU and Ukraine ([09:58]).
    • "He may not win the vote, but that doesn't mean he won’t leave power." – Michael Binion ([09:58])

2. US-Iran Tensions and Diplomatic Deadlock

Segment Start: [10:40]
Key Discussion Points:

• US-Iran Talks Resume:

  • Negotiations in Geneva, facilitated by Oman, happen in the shadow of military threats ([10:40]).
  • Talks focus on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but US objectives seem muddled ([11:34]):
    • Nuclear containment? Regime change? Defending human rights?
    • Panel skeptical that any agreement will be stable or meaningful, especially with Trump’s unpredictability ([11:34]).
    • "Whenever Donald Trump is concerned, you’re not really 100% sure about whether talking is a good idea or not..." – Marta Lorimer ([11:34])

• Motivations of Each Side:

  • US may be seeking regime change but without a clear or feasible path ([13:05]).
    • "What are they actually trying to achieve? And what is the best outcome for the United States?" – Michael Binion ([13:05])
  • Iran’s leadership might see no reason to cede on arms or nuclear program; martyrdom over concession ([13:05]).

• The Israeli Factor:

  • Muller posits that Israel acts as “guarantor of last resort,” prepared to strike if Iran approaches nuclear capability ([14:38]).
    • "...if Israel actually ever thought Iran was anywhere near acquiring a nuclear weapon, Israel would do what it did..." ([14:38])
  • Iran knows Israel's red lines, making serious escalation less likely—but no easy solutions in sight ([15:27]).

• US Domestic Politics:

  • Trump's base once rallied around “no more stupid wars,” yet his administration appears more interventionist than expected ([16:54]).
    • "This is... the most striking part of the fact that we're even having this conversation...” – Marta Lorimer ([16:54])

3. Japanese Pet Ownership Trends

Segment Start: [17:50]
Key Discussion Points:

• Increasing Dog Ownership, Declining Cats:

  • National survey: dog's population up, cats down for the first time in a decade ([17:50]).
  • Hypotheses: pets as child substitutes amidst financial and social constraints facing young adults ([19:21]).
    • "People are investing more in pets because they finding the space in which to have children is expensive and difficult..." – Andrew Muller paraphrasing a popular theory ([18:57])

• Social Factors:

  • Increase in single-person households may be fueling companion animal adoption ([19:45]).
    • "Having an animal is something that will keep you company..." – Marta Lorimer ([19:49])
  • Dogs lauded as social facilitators, while cats offer solo companionship ([21:04]).

• Cultural Tech Alternatives:

  • Mention of Japan’s brief fascination with robotic pets (Tamagotchi), reflecting societal trends ([21:04]).
    • "They invented these creatures where you have a dog that you sort of pretend to feed..." – Michael Binion ([21:04])

4. Urban Planning Oddities: Mumbai’s Musical Road

Segment Start: [22:12]
Key Discussion Points:

• Musical Roadway:

  • Mumbai authorities install road grooves to play a tune from "Slumdog Millionaire" at target speeds ([22:12]).
  • Residents along the route are furious and overwhelmed by the constant noise ([23:11]).
    • "I am not, I assure listeners, a violent man. I would have set fire to the town hall." – Andrew Muller ([23:14])

• Technical and Social Critiques:

  • Panel marvels at the technical precision but denounces practical sense ([23:41]).
    • "I've had this in the past with buildings... the architects couldn't understand why the academics were asking about having bookshelves in their offices." – Marta Lorimer, on the disconnect between planners and real people ([24:01])
  • Warnings about unintended consequences, like encouraging unsafe speeds, and the irony of adding more noise to already cacophonous cities ([25:06]).
    • "There's an implication here that the people who made this decision thought this city is just not noisy enough." – Andrew Muller ([26:02])

5. Monocle Magazine: Urban Beautification and Favorite Scenic Drives

Segment Start: [26:23]
Key Discussion Points:

• Greece’s Highway Oleanders:

  • Praised as urban beautification—practical and pleasant, but with caveats about water usage and toxicity ([26:45]).
  • "Any flowers beside a road make the road more pleasant to drive down." – Michael Binion ([27:05])

• Scenic Drives:

  • Personal favorites range from English countryside to California’s Alabama Hills ([27:23], [28:01]).
    • "...Alabama Hills, which used to be a movie set...a really, really stunning place. Sometimes still think about it." – Marta Lorimer ([28:01])

6. Habsburg Nostalgia and the Florentine Diamond

Segment Start: [28:31]
Key Discussion Points:

• Austrian Monarchism:

  • Feature report by Alexei Korolev on Austria’s revived debate over the legendary Florentine diamond ([28:31]).
  • Austrian society’s complex relationship with its imperial past—is the Habsburg legacy a force for nostalgia or a relevant cultural anchor? ([29:08]-[33:19])

• Profiles and Perspectives:

  • Lars Ivanovic of the Ottonen Fraternity expresses measured monarchist nostalgia, emphasizing history and fellowship rather than political agitation ([30:26], [31:05]).
    • "We obviously stand firmly behind the Austrian Republic, but we are also not willing to forget how we got where we are and what our past is." – Lars Ivanovic ([31:05])
  • Historian Christopher Brennan points out the enduring soft power of the Habsburg name ([33:19]).
    • "...they do serve as a cultural anchor. No Austrian, even the most hardcore republican, could pretend that the Habsburgs were not the very base of the concept of Austria." ([33:19])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I would kind of respect Ukraine if they were holding up the Russian gas for Hungary...he's basically used Ukraine as a token to get further concessions from the European Union..."
  — Marta Lorimer ([05:39])

• "He may not win the vote, but that doesn't mean he won’t leave power."
  — Michael Binion ([09:58])

• "Whenever Donald Trump is concerned, you’re not really 100% sure about whether talking is a good idea or not..."
  — Marta Lorimer ([11:34])

• "What are they actually trying to achieve?...Is the motive to actually promote regime change. In that case, you need a war at least."
  — Michael Binion ([13:05])

• "I am not, I assure listeners, a violent man. I would have set fire to the town hall."
  — Andrew Muller ([23:14]) — on Mumbai's musical road.

• "They do serve as a cultural anchor. No Austrian, even the most hardcore republican, could pretend that the Habsburgs were not the very base of the concept of Austria."
  — Christopher Brennan, Habsburg historian ([33:19])

Timestamps Summary at a Glance

• 03:41 – Hungary’s Ukraine policy and Orban’s political calculus
• 05:21 – Scepticism toward Ukraine’s pipeline claims
• 07:16 – Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy
• 09:58 – Potential consequences of Hungarian elections
• 10:40 – US-Iran negotiation and nuclear tensions
• 13:05 – Confusion over US strategy with Iran
• 14:38 – Israel’s role as nuclear "guarantor"
• 16:54 – Trump’s base versus his foreign policy moves
• 17:50 – Japanese pet demographics and social context
• 22:12 – Mumbai’s “musical” road kerfuffle
• 26:23 – Urban beautification, Greek roads, and scenic drives
• 28:31 – Austria: Habsburg nostalgia and the fate of the Florentine diamond

Conclusion

The episode offers a sharp, layered analysis of Europe’s evolving political landscape and global affairs. Hungary's intransigence and Orban's possible downfall, US-Iran brinkmanship, shifting pet ownership as social commentary, eccentric city planning, and Austria’s flirtations with monarchical nostalgia collectively paint a portrait of a world grappling with its past, future, and the bizarre in between. Through expert commentary and lively banter, the panel keeps the discussion both incisive and entertaining.