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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