Russia has promised a “harsh and painful” response after Hungary expelled 10 Russian diplomats over activities Budapest described as “unacceptable”. The warning came from Moscow’s foreign minister, who directed his remarks at what he called the “Russophobic lobby in Budapest”, signalling a sharp deterioration in relations between the two capitals.
The expulsions mark a significant rupture in the stance of Hungary, which has often taken a more conciliatory line toward Moscow than many of its European Union and NATO partners. Hungarian authorities did not detail the specific activities that prompted the decision, but the move aligns Budapest more closely with the broader Western position on Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov struck a different tone when speaking to reporters, expressing confidence about the course of the conflict. “Yes, we are confident, and we are sure that victory is very near,” Peskov said in comments reported by Reuters. His remarks came as fighting in Ukraine continues to dominate European diplomatic and security discussions.
The expulsion of diplomats is one of the more concrete actions taken by Hungary against Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. While Budapest has repeatedly criticised EU sanctions packages and delayed aid to Kyiv, it has also sought to maintain channels of communication with Moscow. The latest move suggests those ties are now under greater strain.
Russia’s foreign ministry statement did not specify which measures it might take in response, but the promise of a “harsh and painful” reply raises the prospect of reciprocal expulsions or other diplomatic penalties. Such exchanges have become common across Europe since 2022, with many countries ejecting Russian personnel suspected of espionage or covert operations.
Hungary’s decision comes at a delicate moment for European unity on Russia policy. Several EU member states have grown frustrated with Budapest’s repeated blocking of joint statements and its reluctance to fully back military support for Ukraine. The expulsion may be read as an attempt by the Hungarian government to recalibrate its position, though officials in Budapest have not publicly framed it that way.
For Moscow, the loss of diplomatic presence in Budapest is a practical setback. Hungary has served as a rare sympathetic voice inside the EU, with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán maintaining personal contacts with Russian leadership and opposing arms deliveries to Ukraine. The removal of 10 diplomats reduces Russia’s operational footprint in a country that has been one of its more comfortable listening posts in Europe.
The Kremlin’s confident language about the war effort stands in contrast to the diplomatic friction unfolding in Budapest. Peskov’s assertion that victory is “very near” echoes earlier statements from Russian officials, who have repeatedly predicted success on the battlefield even as Ukrainian forces continue to resist and Western allies maintain their support.
No timeline has been given for Russia’s promised response, and it remains unclear whether Moscow will target Hungarian diplomats in Russia or take other measures. Diplomatic expulsions of this scale are rarely left unanswered, and the coming weeks are likely to show whether the exchange escalates or stabilises.
The episode adds another layer of tension to Europe’s already fraught relationship with Moscow, and it places Hungary in an unusual position: publicly at odds with Russia at a time when its government has often sought to distance itself from the mainstream European consensus on the war.
