Hungary has expelled 10 Russian diplomats, drawing an immediate vow of 'harsh' retaliation from Moscow in a move analysts say signals a notable shift in Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's traditionally Russia-friendly foreign policy.
Hungary has for years maintained warmer ties with Russia than most of its NATO and EU partners, with Orbán repeatedly resisting tougher sanctions on Moscow and blocking or delaying European Union aid packages to Ukraine. The expulsion of 10 Russian diplomatic staff therefore represents an unusually assertive step by Budapest and departs sharply from its established posture toward the Kremlin.
Budapest announced the expulsion without initially detailing the specific grounds, a pattern common in diplomatic incidents of this nature. Moscow responded swiftly, promising what it characterized as a 'harsh' response, though Russian officials did not specify what retaliatory measures would follow. Multiple outlets — BBC News, the Kyiv Independent, Al Jazeera, and The New York Times — confirmed the expulsion and Russia's reaction. The New York Times framed the decision as a signal of a broader policy shift within the Orbán government.
If Budapest sustains this harder line toward Moscow, it could ease longstanding friction within the EU and NATO over Hungary's blocking of collective measures related to the war in Ukraine. Conversely, a sharp Russian countermove — such as expelling Hungarian diplomats or curtailing energy cooperation — could test how far Orbán is prepared to push the new posture. The episode adds fresh uncertainty to an already strained Russia-Europe relationship.
Russia has not yet announced specific retaliatory steps. Further details on the grounds for the expulsion and Moscow's formal response are expected in the coming days.