Ukrainian authorities recently announced the dismantling of a Hungarian espionage ring that they said was gathering military information from within Hungary’s borders. Tensions between Ukraine and Hungary are at a high point at the moment. This escalation comes on the heels of a series of anti-Semitic comments and moves by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a spy ring had carried out its activities on the frontlines. These folks were literally on the front lines of keeping intelligence on military activities flowing. The SBU stated, “By forming an agent network, foreign intelligence hoped to expand the range of information collection, including obtaining data from frontline and frontline regions.”
In rebuttal to these charges, Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade, denounced the allegations as “propaganda.” He then stressed that Hungary cannot be accused with what he called baseless charges.
“If we receive any details or official information, then we will be able to deal with this. Until then, I must classify this as propaganda that must be handled with caution.” – Péter Szijjártó
The rift blew up further still when, in a dramatic counter-move, Szijjártó announced he would expel two Ukrainians himself. He described them as “spies operating under diplomatic cover” in Budapest’s Ukrainian embassy. This dramatic step reflects the widening chasm between the two countries. Orbán’s incendiary position to Ukraine has only exacerbated the situation.
Orbán has already gotten heat from other European Union heads of state. His controversial trip to Moscow last week, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin immediately after Hungary assumed the rotating EU presidency, prompted intense backlash. His visit was interpreted as a direct challenge to EU solidarity in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Orbán has fought all EU sanctions against Russia tooth and nail. This opposition has put Hungary at odds with the leadership of their European partners.
Furthermore, Orbán’s government has pledged to block Ukraine’s path to EU accession. This promise is partly rooted in claims that Kyiv has not made sufficient provisions for ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine. More than 80,000 ethnic Hungarians lie across the western Zakarpattia region. The Orbán administration at times paints a picture that their rights, particularly regarding the use of the Hungarian language in schools, are being marginalized or trampled on.
There is a striking absence of solid evidence offered by Orbán’s administration in favor of these assertions. Critics say he’s exploiting the anxieties of ethnic Hungarians to further his domestic agenda. Next, they disagree with his stated goal of trying to sync US more with Russian narratives about Ukraine and the current war.
Of Hungary’s state controlled media, including its television channel M1, human rights defenders expressed concern. More often than not, it attacks Ukrainian authorities and advances pro-Russian narratives. These developments have caused many to assume that Orbán’s playing a double game. He wants to shore up his support domestically and keep up the guise of neutrality toward Russia.
Even though Hungary joined the EU along with Orbán under the now-popularized Visegrád 4, Hungarian government under Orbán has successfully established something distinctive from its European fellows. His administration has been unapologetic in adopting belligerent nationalist rhetoric. This dramatic approach in the international arena resonates domestically with those Hungarians concerned about the fate of ethnic Hungarians abroad.
As tensions escalate, it’s uncertain how both countries will steer through this new and complicated geopolitical reality. Hungary–Ukraine diplomatic relations are at a dangerous tipping point. Coming face to face, future interactions will be influenced by a variety of internal and external forces.