Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Budapest wasn’t the best place for talks to end the war in his country but he told reporters in Kyiv today that he will attend if invited. He cited Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Russia-friendly stance as a difficulty.

Below, you’ll find a digest of news reports from October 20, 2025, in Russian and English. The sections below, titled in song lyrics, are (1) police and legal matters in Russia, (2) demographic-themed developments inside Russia,

Bulgaria will allow a plane carrying Vladimir Putin to fly through its airspace to facilitate a planned meeting between the Russian leader and Donald Trump in Budapest later this month. — Ukrinform.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Budapest wasn’t the best place for talks to end the war in Ukraine because of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Russia-friendly stance, but he’d still come if invited.

Hungary will ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin can enter the country for a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump planned in Budapest and return home afterwards, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić spoke after a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Orban in Budapest regarding the EU’s ban on the transit of Russian gas.

The prospect of Vladimir Putin, who is wanted for war crimes, entering EU territory loomed over a meeting of foreign affairs ministers on Monday. View on euronews