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Category: News
March 6, 2026
Immigration
Politics

Dem Congressman’s Illegal Alien SOTU Guest Linked to Sexual Assaults Involving Juveniles.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Marcelo Gomes da Silva, an illegal immigrant and guest of Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) at President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address, is referenced in police reports involving sexual assault and juveniles.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Congressman Seth Moulton, Marcelo Gomes da Silva, the Milford Police Department, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The reports date back to June and September of 2021, with recent developments occurring around the State of the Union on February 24, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Gomes DaSilva is an illegal alien who has no right to be in our nation.” – Department of Homeland Security

🎯IMPACT: The Boston Herald, through public records requests, sought details from the Milford Police Department about incidents involving Gomes da Silva in 2021. However, these requests were denied, citing the involvement of juveniles in the reports.

IN FULL

Anti-ICE activist Marcelo Gomes da Silva, who was invited by Congressman Seth Moulton (D-MA) to the State of the Union, is referenced in police reports related to sexual assault and juveniles, raising concerns about the vetting of such high-profile guests. The Boston Herald, through public records requests, sought details from the Milford Police Department about incidents involving Gomes da Silva in 2021. However, these requests were denied, citing the involvement of juveniles in the reports.

“The records you are requesting are not public records in accordance with M.G.L. c. 4 s. 7 cl. 26 (A). Report 21-23101-OF involves a sexual assault and juveniles. Report 21-16254-OF involves juveniles,” Milford Deputy Chief John Sanchioni wrote when denying the record inquiries.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized Moulton’s stunt just before President Donald J. Trump’s February address to Congress, posting on X (formerly Twitter): “[Rep. Moulton] plans to bring illegal alien Marcelo Gomes DaSilva. Gomes DaSilva is an illegal alien who has no right to be in our nation. We are committed to enforcing the law and fighting for the arrest, detention, and removal of aliens like him.”

Notably, Moulton had his staff escort Gomes da Silva out of the House gallery early on during President Trump‘s State of the Union address, hiding the illegal immigrant and alleged sexual predator in office “out of an abundance of caution,” alleging DHS was “targeting and harassing Marcelo.” The Massachusetts Democrat went on to defend Gomes da Silva, describing him as a “great American” and a “patriot” during subsequent media appearances. Addressing the criminal allegations directly, a spokesman for Moulton said, “According to our review, Marcelo has never been charged with a crime.”

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March 6, 2026
War
World

Trump Says He’ll Only Accept ‘Unconditional Surrender’ from Iran.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced on Friday that the United States will only accept “unconditional surrender” from the Islamic Republic of Iran, stating that there will be “no deal” to end the conflict with the Islamist regime on any other grounds.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, U.S. CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Trump announced his terms on Friday, March 6, 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: U.S. military forces have so far demonstrated overwhelming power; the Islamic Republic has launched retaliatory strikes across the regions, but its military capabilities appear to be deteriorating.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump announced on Friday that the United States will only accept “unconditional surrender” from the Islamic Republic of Iran, stating that there will be “no deal” to end the conflict with the Islamist regime on any other grounds. Trump’s declaration comes just six days after he announced the U.S. military would begin combat operations against Iranian political and military targets, with initial joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes resulting in the deaths of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and dozens of other top officials.

“There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” President Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, continuing, “After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before. IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).'”

During a White House event on Thursday, Trump urged the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with Iran’s regular Artesh military and police forces, to “lay down their arms” or face “absolutely guaranteed death.” He also called on Iranian diplomats to assist in shaping “a new and better Iran.”

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander, Admiral Brad Cooper,  stated on Thursday during a briefing at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, that nearly 200 targets had been struck within Iran over the preceding 72 hours, including areas around Tehran. He stated that “dozens of 2,000-pound penetrator bombs” were dropped on deeply buried ballistic missile launchers and that an Iranian drone carrier ship was ablaze following a strike.

“The amount of combat power that’s still flowing, that’s still coming, that we’ll be able to project over Iran is a multiple of what it currently is right now,” Cooper added.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth emphasized Iran’s miscalculation of American resolve and access to deep reserves of munitions: “Our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us to sustain this campaign as long as we need.”

Speaking with The National Pulse on Thursday, Sec. Hegseth also addressed concerns that strikes against Iran could spread unrest across the Middle East: “What Iran is doing by attacking allied countries that would otherwise want to stay out of this” is pulling them “into the American orbit,” Hegseth said. “So, now you’ve got UAE and Qatar and Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and others saying, ‘Hey, we’re with you, we’ll shoot with you, we’ll fly with you, we’ll defend you,” he explained, saying Iran’s actions were “actually firming up the unity of the resistance” to its regime.“

“So this idea that [the war is] expanding, no, it’s actually simplifying in a number of ways, exactly what we need to achieve,” the War Secretary added.

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March 6, 2026
The National Pulse
News

‘Remember the Alamo!’ — 190 Years Since the Battle That Paved the Way for Texas Independence.

Today marks the 190th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo on March 6, 1836, following an epic 13-day siege. The heroic last stand of the 18th-century Spanish mission’s roughly 200 defenders against the overwhelming forces of Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna, which paved the way for Texas becoming independent and later joining the Union, remains an iconic symbol of sacrifice for liberty down to the present day.

The siege began on February 23 when Santa Anna arrived at San Antonio de Béxar. Lieutenant Colonel William Barret Travis, commanding roughly 182 men revolting against Mexican rule, refused to surrender. Late in February, 32 courageous volunteers from Gonzales under Captain George C. Kimbell fought their way through enemy lines to join the garrison, knowing the siege would likely end in their deaths.

On March 2, while the battle raged, Texas declared its independence. Realizing no help would come, Travis gave his men a fateful choice: attempt a desperate breakout, surrender, or remain and defend the Alamo to the last man. They chose to stand their ground, determined to delay the enemy and give the Texas army time to organize.

Two legendary frontiersmen numbered among the defenders: Davy Crockett and James “Jim” Bowie. Crockett was born on August 17, 1786, in Greene County, Tennessee. A famed hunter, soldier in the Creek War, he was also a three-term U.S. Congressman known for his wit and independence. After losing reelection in 1835, Crockett traveled to Texas and reached the Alamo around February 8, 1836. He served as a private in the Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, boosting morale with his marksmanship and storytelling.

Jim Bowie, born around April 10, 1796, in Kentucky, was already a frontier legend for his fighting skills and the famous Bowie knife he helped popularize. He had settled in Texas, become a Mexican citizen, and married into a leading San Antonio family. Bowie fought in key early battles of the Texas Revolution, including Concepción and the Grass Fight. He arrived at the Alamo in January 1836 and, despite falling seriously ill, refused to abandon his post.

On March 6, Santa Anna’s troops finally succeeded in storming the mission. All of its defenders perished. Yet their sacrifice ignited the rallying cry “Remember the Alamo!” Weeks later, Sam Houston’s forces defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto, winning Texas independence.

One hundred and ninety years later, we still honor the courage of Travis, Crockett, Bowie, and every man who gave his life for freedom. Their stand remains a timeless reminder that liberty often demands the ultimate price—and that true patriots are willing to pay it. Texas—and America—will never forget.


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Today marks the 190th anniversary of the fall of the Alamo on March 6, 1836, following an epic 13-day siege. The heroic last stand of the 18th-century Spanish mission's roughly 200 defenders against the overwhelming forces of Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna, which paved the way for Texas becoming independent and later joining the Union, remains an iconic symbol of sacrifice for liberty down to the present day. show more
March 6, 2026
Media

POLITICO’s German Giant Owner in Stunning $770M Raid of Right-Leaning Telegraph.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Axel Springer, the German publisher behind U.S. liberal media powerhouse POLITICO, has acquired The Telegraph for £575 million, disrupting a planned takeover by Lord Rothermere, owner of The Daily Mail.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Axel Springer, Mathias Döpfner, The Telegraph, RedBird IMI, Lord Rothermere, and the Barclay family.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The acquisition was announced on March 6, impacting the global media landscape.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Now our dream comes true. To be the owner of this institution of quality British journalism is a privilege and a duty.” – Mathias Döpfner

🎯IMPACT: The acquisition marks Axel Springer’s largest move into the UK market, with potential implications for media plurality and public interest.

IN FULL

Axel Springer, the German publishing giant, has acquired The Telegraph for £575 million ($770M). This move disrupts a previous takeover attempt by Lord Rothermere, the owner of The Daily Mail. Mathias Döpfner, the CEO of Axel Springer, has expressed his long-standing ambition to own The Telegraph, calling it a “dream come true.”

The acquisition was made possible after Axel Springer secured security over The Telegraph from RedBird IMI, a UAE-backed entity that had attempted to take control in 2023. This marks Axel Springer’s largest venture into the UK market, furthering Döpfner’s strategy of expanding in the English-speaking world.

Axel Springer, known for its substantial revenues and profits, has previously attempted to acquire The Telegraph in 2004 and the Financial Times in 2015. The company’s international portfolio includes POLITICO and Business Insider, yet none hold a significant share in the UK news market.

The acquisition might still face scrutiny from the UK Government, which could investigate its impact on the public interest, a process that could take several months. The Telegraph has been in a state of uncertainty since June 2023, following the Barclay family’s loss of control to Lloyds Banking Group.

The move will likely cause concern over the Telegraph’s historically right-leaning editorial positions, with Axel Springer known for its globalist tilt.

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March 5, 2026
Crime
Immigration

‘Abdulkarim Farah’ Jailed for Trying to Bribe Juror in Minnesota Fraud Case.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Abdulkarim Farah of Minneapolis was sentenced to 57 months in prison for attempting to bribe a juror in a high-profile fraud case.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Abdulkarim Farah, his brothers, co-defendant Ladan Ali, and “Juror 52” were key figures in the case.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The bribery attempt occurred during a trial beginning April 22, 2024, in Minnesota.

🎯IMPACT: The case highlights the importance of safeguarding the integrity of the justice system and the role of impartial juries.

IN FULL

Abdulkarim Farah of Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison followed by one year of supervised release after attempting to bribe a juror during the first trial connected to the massive Feeding Our Future fraud case. The largely Somali-led nonprofit sat at the center of a pandemic-era scheme that prosecutors say stole more than $250 million in taxpayer funds intended to provide meals to children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to federal prosecutors, Farah worked with his brothers and other associates to influence the trial’s outcome by offering money to “Juror 52” in exchange for a not-guilty verdict. The bribery attempt occurred during a trial that began April 22, 2024, involving seven defendants, including two of Farah’s brothers, before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel.

Court filings state that Farah monitored Juror 52 and the juror’s home, shared logistical information with co-conspirators, and coordinated the delivery of the bribe with co-defendant Ladan Ali. On June 2, 2024, Farah drove Ali to the juror’s residence, where she delivered a gift bag containing cash to a relative of the juror and promised additional payments if the juror voted to acquit. Investigators later found that Farah deleted the Signal messaging app from his phone in an effort to destroy evidence.

U.S. District Judge Eric C. Tostrud sentenced Farah to the high end of the federal guidelines. During sentencing, the judge emphasized the importance of juries to the justice system, describing “properly functioning juries” as a cornerstone of criminal courts, and commended Juror 52 for refusing the large cash bribe.

The Feeding Our Future case has become one of the largest fraud scandals in the United States. Payments to the nonprofit surged during the pandemic as it claimed to be distributing millions of meals through dozens of affiliated sites across Minnesota.

Federal investigators have charged 98 people in connection with the scheme. According to congressional oversight findings cited in early 2026, 85 of those defendants are Somali.

The case has also prompted broader scrutiny of organized fraud networks tied to pandemic relief programs in Minnesota. Investigators and lawmakers have raised concerns about underground financial networks moving large sums of money through U.S. airports and allegations that proceeds from fraud operations have been connected to activist movements in Minneapolis.

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March 5, 2026
Economy
News

Trump Tariffs Working: China Sets Weakest Economic Growth Target in Decades.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: China announced its 2026 GDP growth target at 4.5-5 percent, the lowest benchmark since 1991, signaling a shift to slower economic growth.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced at the opening of the National People’s Congress on Thursday in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

🎯IMPACT: The lower target is a sign of structural issues in China’s export-heavy economy, which has been hit by President Trump’s efforts to disincentivise cheap imports in favor of products made by American workers.

IN FULL

China has set its lowest economic growth goal in decades, signaling a shift in strategy as the country confronts mounting domestic and international pressures. Speaking at the opening session of the National People’s Congress in Beijing, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced a GDP growth target of 4.5 percent to five percent for the year. Delivered at the Great Hall of the People, the benchmark marks the first time since 1991 that China has set a national growth target below five percent.

China continues to grapple with a struggling property sector, persistent deflationary pressures, weak domestic consumption, and a cooling labor market. Urban youth unemployment remains elevated at roughly 16.5 percent, reflecting mismatches between job creation and workforce skills.

For decades, China’s rapid expansion was driven by exports and heavy infrastructure investment. That model is increasingly losing momentum. Although the country recorded net exports of about $1.2 trillion in 2025, economists say the returns from export- and investment-led growth are diminishing. Policymakers are now emphasizing longer-term strategies, including boosting household consumption and investing in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

Li acknowledged the country faces a “grave and complex landscape” of internal and external challenges, while noting that the government officially met its five percent growth target in 2025. Notably, analysts have questioned the accuracy of those figures, suggesting actual economic expansion may have been closer to under three percent.

Chinese officials have acknowledged that tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald J. Trump to protect American workers from unfair competition have significantly damaged sectors of the communist country’s export-driven economy. Broader global supply-chain shifts and trade rebalancing have further challenged China’s manufacturing dominance.

Earlier this week, China called on the United States and Israel to halt military strikes on Iran, highlighting concerns about regional instability and its potential impact on global trade and energy markets. China imports a significant amount of oil and oil-related products from Iran.

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March 5, 2026
News
War

War Sec Hegseth Tells The National Pulse the Iran War is ‘Simplifying,’ Not ‘Expanding,’ as Tehran Alienates Neighbors.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: War Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that the United States has ample munitions for operations against Iran, and said the war is “simplifying” rather than “expanding” as the Islamic Republic continues to strike its neighbors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: War Secretary Pete Hegseth and CENTCOM commander Admiral Bradley Cooper.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 5, 2026, at the Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa, Florida.

💬KEY QUOTE: “o this idea that it’s expanding, no, it’s actually simplifying in a number of ways, exactly what we need to achieve.” – Pete Hegseth

🎯IMPACT: The Iran war may be aligning the region more with the U.S. than previously, due to Iran’s erratic retaliatory strikes encompassing previously neutral states.

IN FULL

War Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed concerns about U.S. military stockpiles and the expansion of the Iran war on Thursday, stating unequivocally that the United States has “got no shortage of munitions” and that the war is actually “simplifying” rather than “expanding.”

Speaking at a press conference at Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa, Florida, Hegseth said, “Our stockpiles of defensive and offensive weapons allow us to sustain this campaign as long as we need,” appearing to contradict claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the U.S. military needs Ukrainian interceptor drones, and that he is pressuring Washington to give him more Patriot missiles in exchange.

Questioned by The National Pulse’s Pentagon correspondent, Will Upton, about potentially coordinating attacks with Azerbaijan, a neighbor of Iran planning to join the war after a drone strike on one of its airports, Hegseth argued that Iran’s often erratic retaliatory actions across the region are inadvertently drawing more countries into alignment with the U.S.

“What Iran is doing by attacking allied countries that would otherwise want to stay out of this” is pulling them “into the American orbit,” Hegseth said. “So, now you’ve got UAE and Qatar and Bahrain and Saudi and Kuwait and others saying, ‘Hey, we’re with you, we’ll shoot with you, we’ll fly with you, we’ll defend you,” he explained, saying Iran’s actions were “actually firming up the unity of the resistance” to its regime.

“So this idea that [the war is] expanding, no, it’s actually simplifying in a number of ways, exactly what we need to achieve,” the War Secretary added.

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March 5, 2026
News
World

Trump Says ‘Cuba’s Going to Fall,’ Mulls ‘Friendly Takeover.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Trump predicted the imminent collapse of Cuba’s communist regime.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Donald Trump, Cuban government, U.S. military, former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 2026, interview with Politico, Cuba, Venezuela, U.S.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Cuba’s going to fall too.” – Donald Trump

🎯IMPACT: U.S. actions in Venezuela have intensified pressure on Cuba, leading to severe economic instability.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump has expressed strong confidence that Cuba’s communist regime is approaching its end. He tied this prediction to recent U.S. military action in Iran and the forcible removal of Venezuela’s now-former president.

“People are loving what’s happening,” he insisted with respect to Operation Epic Fury in Iran, adding: “Cuba’s going to fall too.”

“We cut off all oil, all money or we cut off everything coming in from Venezuela, which was the sole source. And they want to make a deal,” he said, adding when asked if his administration was intentionally accelerating the Cuban regime’s demise, “Well, what do you think?”

Trump highlighted the U.S.’s previous intervention in Venezuela, where American forces captured the now-former Marxist narco-dictator, Nicolás Maduro. That move has cut off a major lifeline for Cuba, which has long depended heavily on Venezuelan oil and financial support.

Cuba is now facing serious fuel shortages and widespread power outages, made much worse by the sudden end of Venezuelan assistance. Trump noted that U.S. officials are currently in discussions with the Cuban leadership as the island nation seeks help.

President Trump suggested a peaceful path forward might still be possible, stating, “Maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba.”

Image by Pierre Marshall. 

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March 5, 2026
News
Politics

Congressman Confirms Affair With Staffer Who Later Burned Herself to Death.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales (R) admitted to having an affair with a staffer who committed suicide last year.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Congressman Tony Gonzales, deceased staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, and the House Ethics Committee.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The admission was made during an interview released on March 4, 2026, on The Joe Pags Show.

💬KEY QUOTE: “There was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions.” – Tony Gonzales

🎯IMPACT: Gonzales is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and faces calls to step down, while continuing his campaign for re-election.

IN FULL

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) has admitted to having an affair with former congressional staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who died by suicide in 2025. Gonzales made the admission during an interview on The Joe Pags Show, which aired on Wednesday. During the interview, Gonzales acknowledged the relationship and accepted responsibility for his actions, which could violate House rules prohibiting sexual relationships between members of Congress and staff under their supervision. Reflecting on the situation, he said, “There was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions.”

Gonzales also said he has reconciled with his wife, Angel Gonzales, with whom he shares six children. He added that he believes God has forgiven him. The House Committee on Ethics is reviewing whether Gonzales violated the House Code of Official Conduct or other congressional standards.

Santos-Aviles, who served as a district director in Gonzales’s office, reportedly told another staffer in text messages that “I had affair with our boss.” Screenshots later published and additional messages released by her widower appeared to support the claim. In one exchange, Gonzales allegedly asked her for a “sexy pic,” which she declined. Ultimately, she attempted suicide by setting herself on fire, and died from her injuries.

Gonzales initially denied the accusations, describing the claims as “completely untruthful.” However, after the messages surfaced and scrutiny intensified, he publicly acknowledged the affair.

The controversy has emerged during a difficult reelection campaign. Gonzales is currently facing a Republican primary runoff against Brandon Herrera, scheduled for May 26. Despite calls from some lawmakers, including members of his own party, to resign, Gonzales has vowed to remain in the race.

The situation has also drawn comparisons to other recent controversies involving alleged workplace relationships in government. One example involves Democrat prosecutor Fani Willis, who faced scrutiny after allegations surfaced that she had an undisclosed relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

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March 5, 2026
News
War

Zelensky Threatens to Give Orban’s Address to Ukrainian Military.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a thinly veiled threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, saying he will give the populist leader’s address to the Ukrainian military if he blocks European Union (EU) funding for Ukraine.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 5, 2026; Kiev, Ukraine.

💬KEY QUOTE: “[W]e will simply give the address of that person to our Armed Forces—our guys can call him and speak to him in their own language.” – Volodymyr Zelensky

🎯IMPACT: The incident highlights the escalating tensions between Ukraine and Hungary, with Zelensky accused of imposing an “oil blockade” on Hungary and Orban threatening to block tens of billions of dollars in EU aid for Ukraine in return.

IN FULL

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a veiled threat to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban over a stalled European Union (EU) aid package worth tens of billions of dollars, suggesting Ukraine’s military will be given his address if he blocks the funds. This comes as Zelensky is accused of imposing an “oil blockade” on Hungary and Slovakia, landlocked countries that depend on supply routes passing from Russia through Ukraine for crude oil.

The dispute centers on a proposed €90 billion (~$105bn) EU loan intended to help fund Ukraine’s military and economic needs as the war with Russia continues. Zelensky underscored the urgency of approving the aid, saying: “We hope that one person in the EU [Orban] will not block the 90 billion euros—or at least the first tranche of it —so that Ukrainian soldiers receive the weapons they need. Otherwise, we will give the address of this person to our Armed Forces, to our guys. Let them call him and speak with him in their own language.”

Ukraine and Hungary are already at odds over the Druzhba pipeline, a major route carrying Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia. The pipeline has been shut by the Ukrainians, and Orbán has warned that Hungary will end the blockade “by force.”

Orbán has also expressed skepticism about continuing large-scale financial and military support for Ukraine. In one interview, he criticized Western spending on the war, stating: “We have burned already €185 billion, and… our intention is to burn even more. So we finance a country which has no chance to win the war.”

Budapest has also opposed Kiev’s bid to join the European Union. Orbán has argued that admitting Ukraine while it remains at war would risk drawing the EU directly into the conflict, warning: “The problem is the war; if we were to integrate Ukraine into the EU, we would integrate the war.”

Security tensions have added to the strain. Ukrainian authorities recently accused Hungary of running a spy network in the Transcarpathia region of western Ukraine, which has a sizable ethnic Hungarian minority. Hungary has rejected the allegations, while accusing the Ukrainian government of repressing the Hungarian minority and language.

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