### Ukraine and Hungary Expel Diplomats Amid Espionage Allegations
Ukraine and Hungary have each expelled two diplomats following mutual accusations of espionage, escalating tensions between the two nations. Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, announced the decision after the SBU security agency claimed to have uncovered a Hungarian spy network gathering intelligence on Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Hungary’s Foreign Minister, Péter Szijjártó, retaliated by expelling two Ukrainian diplomats, dismissing Kyiv’s claims as “propaganda.” The SBU stated that two suspects, allegedly recruited by Hungarian military intelligence, had been detained for treason, marking the first time Ukraine has accused Hungary of espionage.
### Strained Relations Over Military Aid and Ethnic Tensions
The diplomatic rift highlights the fraught relationship between Ukraine and Hungary, despite both being aligned with the EU and NATO. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has consistently opposed Western military aid to Ukraine and maintained ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, diverging from broader EU efforts to isolate Moscow. The SBU alleged that the detained spies were tasked with gathering sensitive military information, particularly regarding Ukraine’s air defense systems in the Transcarpathia region, home to a significant ethnic Hungarian minority. Orbán’s government has previously clashed with Kyiv over minority language rights, further complicating bilateral relations.
### Hungary Denies Claims and Accuses Ukraine of Propaganda
Szijjártó dismissed Ukraine’s espionage allegations as unfounded and retaliated by expelling two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing Kyiv of using anti-Hungarian rhetoric to deflect from Budapest’s opposition to military aid. He emphasized that Hungary would not tolerate what he called defamatory actions against the country. The expulsions come as Ukraine continues to resist Russia’s invasion, relying heavily on Western support. The incident underscores the deepening divide between Kyiv and Budapest, with Orbán’s pro-Russia stance and Ukraine’s security concerns driving further diplomatic friction.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
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Forrás: https://japantoday.com/category/world/ukraine-hungary-each-expel-two-diplomats-in-espionage-row.