**Russia Expels Hungarian Diplomats Following Budapest's Diplomatic Shift**
Moscow has ordered the expulsion of Hungarian diplomats from its embassy and consulates, marking a significant diplomatic rift between Russia and Hungary. This decision comes just weeks after Hungary expelled ten Russian diplomats on national security grounds, a move that represents a notable departure from the foreign policy of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had maintained closer ties with Moscow than most other leaders in the European Union.
On October 1, 2026, Hungary's chargé d'affaires, Gábor Gergics, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry, where he was informed that staff members from the Hungarian embassy in Moscow, as well as consulates in St. Petersburg and Kazan, were required to leave Russia within two weeks. The Russian government condemned Hungary's earlier expulsion of its diplomats, labeling it a "baseless and openly unfriendly" act.
In response to the expulsion, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry acknowledged Russia's decision but reiterated its stance. "Hungary is not interested in an escalation of diplomatic tensions. But we stand by our decision, taken on national security grounds," the ministry stated on social media platform X. They emphasized that Hungary's diplomatic missions in Russia would continue to operate as usual.
The backdrop of this diplomatic tension is a significant shift in Hungary's foreign policy under the new leadership of Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who took office earlier this year. The Hungarian government has officially classified Russia as a threat to both Hungary and the broader global order, particularly in light of Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. In a statement at the UN General Assembly in late August, the Magyar administration condemned Russia's actions and affirmed Hungary's support for Ukrainian sovereignty and its right to self-defense.
Despite this shift, Hungary has been cautious in its approach to Ukraine, blocking the opening of new EU accession negotiation clusters with Kyiv. This stance appears to be a strategic move to secure concessions regarding the rights of Hungary's ethnic minority in Ukraine.
Viktor Orbán, who served as Prime Minister for 16 years until his party, Fidesz, lost the general elections in April, had a markedly different approach to Russia. He openly sympathized with the Kremlin and refrained from joining other EU nations in expelling Russian diplomats following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orbán’s administration had maintained a policy of engagement with Moscow, often using Hungary's veto power in the European Council to block initiatives related to Ukraine.
Prime Minister Magyar has pledged to pursue "pragmatic" relations with Russia, indicating a potential recalibration of Hungary's foreign policy moving forward. However, the recent mutual expulsions of diplomats suggest that the path to improved relations may be fraught with challenges.
As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how Hungary will navigate its relationships with both Russia and Ukraine, and what implications these diplomatic shifts will have for Hungary's standing within the European Union and its broader foreign policy objectives.