How Did Poland Get So Far Ahead of Hungary?

“Hungary was once wealthier than Poland—it had a per capita GDP of $21,400 in 1990, when it also emerged from under the thumb of the Soviet Union—but it now lags considerably and seems to be falling farther behind. A share of the blame goes to Hungarian President Viktor Orbán, who embarked on an economic and ideological project during the 2010s that caught the attention of conservatives and nationalists across the globe, particularly in the United States. Along with a crackdown on immigration, Orbán is a ferocious economic interventionist. In 2021, for example, he responded with aggressive price controls on food, fuel, and other essentials to combat inflation.

That shift toward statism brought predictable shortages and, as Balcerowicz warned, stagnation. Hungary’s economy sank into a recession after posting negative growth in the last two quarters of 2024.

Hungary’s brash strongman is skilled at drawing attention to himself. But Poland’s stability and growth ought to show the way forward—not just for central Europe, but for any place that throws off the shackles of authoritarian ideology and the central planning that comes with it.”

https://reason.com/2025/09/18/poland-climbs-hungary-slips/

Update from Ukraine | Escalation Ruzzia sends more Drones to NATO | Ukraine Hits Big Refinery

Update from Ukraine | Escalation Ruzzia sends more Drones to NATO | Ukraine Hits Big Refinery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iu5gEEgHsCg

Poland says it shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace during attack on Ukraine

Poland says it shot down Russian drones that violated its airspace during attack on Ukraine

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/poland-engages-russian-drones-airspace-first-time-rcna230251

Russian troops mass near Poland as Putin plans to co-opt Belarusian army to threaten NATO

Belarus is partially controlled by Russia, and could be fully controlled soon. Putin has said that he sees Belarusians, Russians, and Ukrainians as one people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hM-OhDBHsc

Russia burned down Warsaw’s biggest mall, Tusk says

“A huge fire that burned the largest shopping center in the Polish capital Warsaw to the ground a year ago was set deliberately by people acting on behalf of Russia, Donald Tusk said Sunday.
European countries, particularly those in the east of the bloc, have been plagued by Russian espionage in recent years. Arson attacks are another common tool used as part of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy.

“We now know for sure that the great fire of the Marywilska shopping center in Warsaw was caused by arson ordered by Russian special services,” Tusk said. “Some of the perpetrators have already been detained, all the others are identified and [are being] sought. We will get you all!”

Tusk had said in March that evidence from Lithuania suggested Russia was to blame for the attack, in line with suspicions in Poland, but his statement on Sunday was unequivocal in assigning responsibility to Russia.

The Lithuanian investigation found that a May 9, 2024 arson attack on an IKEA store in Vilnius, as well as the May 12, 2024 Marywilska fire, were set by Ukrainian citizens acting on behalf of Russia, Tusk wrote in March. A week earlier, Polish prosecutors had said a Belarusian refugee was responsible.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-warsaw-poland-fire-donald-tusk/

Russia plotted terror attacks on airlines around the world, Poland’s Tusk says

“Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Wednesday accused Russia of planning a major terrorist campaign against aircraft.

“I can only confirm that Russia planned acts of air terror, not just against Poland but against airlines across the globe,” said Tusk during a meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The New York Times reported in recent days that U.S. intelligence warned the White House that Russia was planning to smuggle incendiary devices onto cargo planes heading to the U.S. The White House, according to the Times, warned the Kremlin to stop the operation.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-planned-terror-attacks-airlines-around-world-donald-tusk-says/

What Russia Doesn’t Want You to Know About Your History

Eastern European countries were brought and kept in the Warsaw pact by force. These countries wanted to join NATO because they were afraid Russia would invade them.

Before many of them joined NATO, Russia was already violently intervening in its neighbors.

Poland threatened to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself, and got involved in U.S. politics to push for it joining NATO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWK_euAwrMk