World War III?

Plus: 2 Mediocre Ways to Make Goulash, for levity.

What if I’d hooked you with that subject line and then this was just a whole newsletter about Kim and Kanye’s very public divorce bickering?
(It’s not.) 

It’s some foreign affairs news from me, a common fool: 

ICYMI, Russia has amassed more than 125,000 troops at the Ukrainian border. While they’ve denied any intention of attacking Ukraine, I’ve played Civilizations enough to know the warning signs. (Plus, also, actual military experts have chimed in.) 

Putin has repeatedly accused the US and NATO of using Ukraine to harm Russia’s interests, and after several rounds of diplomatic talks, Russia hasn’t shown signs of de-escalating. 

Biden, who was hoping Russia would just ~ be chill ~ for a few years while he grapples with China’s ambition to establish global military and economic supremacy by 2049, just deployed 3,000 troops to bolster European allies nearby. Other EU countries have sent troops and weapons and supplies.

Now we’re all just waiting to see what Putin will do.  

Before you read any further, it’s important to me that you know I cobbled my research together from various reputable sources after I used both of my free monthly New York Times articles to read about Wordle.

The US has intelligence suggesting that Russia will stage a fake attack as a pretext for invasion. Some experts have said that with all eyes on Ukraine, Russia might cause a scene somewhere else. After Putin’s appearance at the Beijing Winter Olympics opening ceremonies, some predict that he’ll wait, as China wouldn’t respond well to something overshadowing their Olympics. 

The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that Putin is unpredictable.

Luv 2 Observe Eastern European Conflict from Eastern Europe. 

I don’t mean to be insensitive, as there are many people whose lives and livelihoods stand to be impacted by this. It’s just been an interesting experience watching this unfold from a country that borders the conflict. 

Especially one that is currently playing nice with Russia. 

While world leaders called on Putin to diffuse the conflict, Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán ruffled some western feathers by going straight to Moscow to chat with Putin about increasing gas exports, lending him an ear as he called the inclusion of Poland and Romania (*cough* …and Hungary…) in NATO “a deceit to Russia.”

Hungary has already stated that it won’t allow increased NATO troop presence in the country, nor will it send more aid to Ukraine.  

Orbán is running for reelection in April in a very tight race - and is looking to his relationship with Putin as a way to swing the election in his favor. He’s already been publicly endorsed by Donald Trump.

Orbán’s win in the last election, it should be mentioned, still faces questions of fraud and foreign intervention. Sound familiar?

Both Orbán and Putin see themselves as defenders of Christian and national values against an interfering West, and Orbán is clearly Putin’s greatest ally within the EU - which has been a divisive stance for the people of Hungary.

Although I can’t read the headlines, the newspapers I’ve spotted here have had a mix of flattering and unflattering photos of Orbán. I’ve also spotted anti-George Soros propaganda on bus stations; who plays the villain for right-wing media in both the US and Hungary.

I snapped a picture of this poster likening Orbán to Dr. Evil’s “mini-me” a block or two from my apartment, and when I walked back that way the next day, it was gone. 

Hungary has a long tradition of being an awkward part of a larger alliance. (Just like me in middle school.)

In WWII, Hungary was an awkward ally of Nazi Germany until Berlin imposed a puppet government in October 1944. During communism, the country was an awkward part of the Eastern Bloc, revolting against its Stalinist regime in 1956. 

Now, as the black sheep of the EU and NATO, it will be interesting to see how Hungary answers the call if and when the shit hits the fan. In the meantime, I look forward to traveling on to my next stops, touring WWI and WWII sites ahead and hoping none of them become WWIII sites.

In much less pressing news, I made goulash! From scratch!

I’d planned to use a recipe that my mother dug out of her personal files that was tried once and marked by my grandmother with the word “no.” (Happy Birthday, Lois!) But I don’t have a crock pot or the patience.

So instead, I used this recipe for goulash soup. (Also a “no” from me.) 

2/10 stars. Not really worth my bravery in trying to communicate with the butcher at the grocery store - something I’m afraid to do even in English… - but I’ll do anything for good content.

---

4 Things I Consumed This Week: 

• A quantity of Milka chocolate bars that I don’t feel comfortable disclosing.

• A pistachio cream donut that I haven’t stopped thinking about since. 

• 4 seasons of Brooklyn 99 (oops.) 

• A very strange dinner of just onions and jalapeño hot dogs. Because once you’ve humiliated yourself in front of a Hungarian butcher, you have to make do with pre-packaged meats.