**Hungary Cancels Meeting on Minority Rights with Ukraine Amid Spy Scandal**
In a move that has sparked further tensions between the two countries, Hungary’s Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar announced that he is cancelling tomorrow’s meeting on minority rights with Ukraine. This decision comes amid a recent espionage scandal involving alleged Hungarian spies operating in Zakarpattia Oblast, a region with a significant ethnic Hungarian minority.
According to reports, on May 9, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) detained two agents accused of espionage against the Ukrainian state. Shortly after, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that his country had expelled two “spies” working under diplomatic cover at Ukraine’s embassy in Budapest. In response, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced that Ukraine would be expelling two Hungarian diplomats from Kyiv.
While the details of the espionage scandal are still unclear, it has created a highly charged atmosphere between the two countries. The Zakarpattia Oblast is a sensitive region along NATO’s eastern frontier and home to a sizable ethnic Hungarian minority. Tensions have been simmering for years over issues such as language laws and dual citizenship schemes.
**A Long-Simmering Dispute**
The dispute between Ukraine and Hungary on minority rights has been ongoing for some time. Budapest has accused Kyiv of discriminating against the Hungarian ethnic minority in southwestern Ukraine, while Kyiv has denied these allegations. The issue centers around Ukraine’s language laws, which require at least 70% of education above fifth grade to be conducted in Ukrainian.
Hungary has called this measure discriminatory towards the Hungarian minority, while Ukraine sees it as a way to ensure that every Ukrainian citizen has sufficient knowledge of the official language. Hungary has also requested changes to the national minorities law, including the restoration of the status of a national school and the ability to take a high school diploma in Hungarian.
**A Failed Attempt at Reconciliation**
In recent months, both countries had sought to mend relations on the issue. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in October 2024 that Kyiv was preparing a bilateral cooperation document with Budapest “to clear up misunderstandings” between the two countries. However, it seems that these efforts have been derailed by the espionage scandal.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha had said on Sept. 30 after talks with Szijjarto that both sides saw “positive dynamics” in resolving issues related to national minorities. However, these positive developments now seem to be at risk of being undone by the current tensions.
**Hungary’s Relationship with Russia**
It is also worth noting that Hungary continues to maintain close ties with Russia, which has created tension within the European Union. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been a vocal supporter of Russia and has opposed military aid for Ukraine, arguing that Western support prolongs the war.
In light of these developments, it remains to be seen whether the two countries can overcome their differences and find a way forward on minority rights.
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As The Kyiv Independent’s senior news editor Dmytro Basmat notes in his introduction, “The dispute between Ukraine and Hungary has been ongoing for some time, with both sides accusing each other of various transgressions.”
In this context, the cancellation of tomorrow’s meeting on minority rights by Hungarian Deputy Foreign Minister Levente Magyar is a significant development. It suggests that tensions between the two countries are running high and may be at risk of escalating further.
For those interested in learning more about this complex issue, we recommend checking out our article for additional context and analysis.
