Latest news with #HungarianMilitary
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hungary cancels talks with Ukraine on minority rights amid espionage row
BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary has cancelled a meeting with Ukraine of experts on minority rights that had been due to take place on Monday, citing a row in which the two neighbours expelled diplomats and accused each other of engaging in espionage. In a statement late on Sunday, Hungarian foreign ministry state secretary Levente Magyar said Hungary had called off the planned meeting in Ukraine because recent developments in bilateral relations do not allow for "constructive talks in such an important and sensitive matter as minority rights". Magyar added that Hungary remained open to dialogue. On Friday Ukraine's SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It was the first time in Ukraine's history that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests, it said. Hungary is a member of the European Union and NATO, which strongly back Ukraine in its war with invading Russian forces, but Prime Minister Viktor Orban is sceptical about Western military aid to Kyiv and retains cordial relations with Russia. Orban's right-wing government has long accused Kyiv of violating the language rights of some 150,000 ethnic Hungarians who live mostly in western Ukraine's Transcarpathia region but the espionage row marks a new low in bilateral relations. Ukraine's SBU security agency said the two suspected agents were former members of its military and had been detained on suspicion of committing state treason. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence. In retaliation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Friday Hungary had expelled two people he said were working as spies at Ukraine's embassy in Budapest. He said Kyiv's move had been driven by Hungary's opposition to providing military aid to Ukraine.
Free Malaysia Today
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ukraine uncovers Hungarian spy network
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. (EPA Images pic) KYIV : Ukraine's SBU security agency said on Friday it had uncovered a spy network being run by the Hungarian state to obtain intelligence about Ukraine's defences. In a statement, the SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It said it was the first time in the history of Ukraine that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Hungarian government. Hungary is part of the EU and Nato, two blocs with which Ukraine is closely allied in the war it is fighting with Russia. However, relations between the two countries have often been fraught. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The SBU said the two suspects are former members of the Ukrainian military. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence, and given cash and special equipment for secret communication. The agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defence batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southern Ukraine, which borders Hungary.
Asharq Al-Awsat
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Ukraine Says It Uncovered Hungarian Spy Network
Ukraine's SBU security agency said on Friday it had uncovered a spy network being run by the Hungarian state to obtain intelligence about Ukraine's defenses. In a statement, the SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It said it was the first time in the history of Ukraine that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Hungarian government. Hungary is part of the European Union and NATO, two blocs with which Ukraine is closely allied in the war it is fighting with Russia. However, relations between the two countries have often been fraught. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been skeptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The SBU said the two suspects are former members of the Ukrainian military. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence and given cash and special equipment for secret communication. The agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defense batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southern Ukraine, which borders Hungary.
Reuters
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Ukraine says it uncovered Hungarian spy network
KYIV, May 9 (Reuters) - Ukraine's SBU security agency said on Friday it had uncovered a spy network being run by the Hungarian state to obtain intelligence about Ukraine's defences. In a statement, the SBU said it had detained two suspected agents who, it said, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence. It said it was the first time in the history of Ukraine that a Hungarian spy network had been found to be working against Kyiv's interests. There was no immediate response to a request for comment from the Hungarian government. Hungary is part of the European Union and NATO, two blocs with which Ukraine is closely allied in the war it is fighting with Russia. However, relations between the two countries have often been fraught. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been sceptical about Western military aid for Ukraine. He has also maintained relations with Vladimir Putin, putting him at odds with most other EU leaders who have sought to isolate the Russian president since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The SBU said the two suspects are former members of the Ukrainian military. It said they were recruited by a handler in Hungarian military intelligence, and given cash and special equipment for secret communication. The agents were tasked with passing on to their handler details about Ukraine's air defence batteries, and other military capabilities in the Transcarpathia region of southern Ukraine, which borders Hungary.
