Ukraine and Hungary Trade Spying Charges in Growing Political Fight

Ties between Ukraine and Hungary are worse than ever. Both sides have made arrests and expelled diplomats. The fight started when Ukraine said two of its people were spying for Hungary. They were working for Hungary's army, planning secret actions in Ukraine.

Hungary then kicked out two Ukrainian diplomats. Ukraine did the same. Hungary also arrested a Ukrainian and said he was a spy.

Hungary’s leader, Viktor Orban, is close to Russia. He doesn’t want to help Ukraine much. He blocks weapons and says Ukraine is like Afghanistan. Orban now says Ukraine is trying to hurt Hungary’s image.

Orban sent a form to every home in Hungary. It asked people to say "no" to Ukraine joining the EU.

Last year, Orban said he was trying to stop the war. He visited leaders in Kyiv and Moscow. But critics say he helped Russia. The day after he met Russia’s Putin, missiles hit a children’s hospital in Kyiv.

Three days later, Peter Magyar, leader of Hungary's Tisza party, brought aid to that hospital. Now, polls say Magyar may beat Orban in the next election.

The man who drove Magyar to Kyiv, Roland Tseber, is now under attack from Orban’s party. Tseber helps refugees and gives out medical aid. He says he’s innocent and not a spy. He’s banned from Hungary and the EU, but no one told him why.

Some far-right leaders in Hungary call him a terrorist. Others say he’s working with Ukraine’s spies. Tseber says he’s just doing his job to help people.

Tseber is an elected leader in Ukraine. He meets many people, even Hungary’s Deputy Foreign Minister. He says the story against him is fake. If he were a real threat, top politicians wouldn’t meet him.

This fight has also hurt Hungarians living in Ukraine. Their numbers have dropped from 150,000 to under 80,000. Many have died fighting Russia.

Orban’s rivals are also being attacked. One is Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi, once Hungary’s army chief. He now works with the Tisza party. Media linked to the government say he worked with Ukraine’s spies. He says it’s a lie.

In 2022, Orban won re-election by saying he would keep Hungary out of war. But a speech leaked by Magyar shows a different side. In 2023, Hungary’s Defense Minister said the army was getting ready for war.

That same year, many pro-West officers were fired. They were replaced by those who support Hungary’s ties with Russia.