Hungary was once called the “heart of Europe.” Today, it’s the fault line. In a continent united against Moscow, Hungary stands apart, a European Union and NATO member that still buys Russian gas, echoes Kremlin talking points, and calls itself a “peacekeeper” while blocking EU sanctions. And now, it’s hosting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin: two men who have redrawn global politics once already. What makes Budapest such a perfect meeting ground for this uneasy duo? In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta decodes the paradox of Hungary, a country that belongs to the West but speaks the East’s language. We’ll trace how Viktor Orbán became Europe’s contrarian voice, why Brussels can’t rein him in, and how his strategy of “strategic autonomy” could make Hungary the stage for a new geopolitical reset. Can Budapest really be neutral, or is it the new frontline of influence?