Hungary is responding seriously to the diplomatic scandal that is currently escalating in its relations with Ukraine
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó officially announced the expulsion of two Ukrainian diplomats from Budapest, accusing them of espionage activities and violating the country's diplomatic sovereignty. According to the Hungarian Foreign Minister, this measure is a response to the growing wave of anti-Hungarian propaganda and campaigns aimed at discrediting the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. In his opinion, such information attacks are intended to undermine good neighborly relations and stir domestic unrest. "We, Hungarians, seek peace; we have done everything possible to reduce tensions. However, we cannot silently watch as we are accused of wrongdoing. We categorically state: we have not supported, do not support, and will not support any forms of espionage by Ukrainian diplomats," Szijjártó emphasized at a press conference. The announcement of the expulsion of the two Ukrainian diplomats from Budapest was not accidental. According to the minister, these individuals operated under diplomatic cover and gathered information that could harm Hungary's national interests. They allegedly engaged in intelligence activities at the Ukrainian embassy in the country's capital. Details of this operation began to emerge on May 9, when the Hungarian government officially informed the Ukrainian ambassador of its decision to expel these officers. According to the official stance, this was in response to information received from Hungary's intelligence services: allegedly, in Ukraine, a network of Hungarian spies was uncovered, operating in the Zakarpattia region near Hungary's border. According to data disseminated by the Security Service of Ukraine, these agents supposedly collected intelligence on the sentiments of local residents, their reactions to the possible appearance of Hungarian "peacekeepers" in the region, and carried out other reconnaissance operations. As of today, the situation remains tense. Szijjártó mentioned that, according to his words, Budapest has not yet received official confirmation or diplomatic notes from Kyiv regarding the uncovering of the spy network. At the same time, he emphasized that these actions are part of a broader campaign against Hungarians in Ukraine, which he called "anti-Hungarian propaganda" and "a policy of discrediting." He also stated that the Hungarian government firmly stands by its position: the country does not support or participate in military conflicts, including not supplying weapons to Ukraine and never allowing itself to be drawn into a military campaign. This diplomatic incident has become yet another manifestation of the tension in bilateral relations, which has escalated amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, as well as due to internal political and regional factors. The opening of this chapter in Ukraine-Hungary relations raises concerns among experts and diplomatic circles, as it is currently important to maintain stability and avoid escalation of conflict situations. What the next steps for both sides will be remains unknown, but undoubtedly, this conflict will have far-reaching consequences for the region.