Hungary has postponed the consultations with the Ukrainian delegation on national minorities, which were scheduled for May 12 and intended to mark the start of regular negotiations.
This was announced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice.
The ministry recalled that earlier in Budapest, both sides had agreed to form expert groups to review 11 recommendations from Hungary. The Ukrainian delegation was expecting to see the first preliminary results on May 12, the ministry added.
“The postponed consultations were planned to be held in Uzhhorod, where the Ukrainian delegation had already arrived,” the statement said.
The cancellation came amid renewed tensions in Ukrainian-Hungarian relations, which escalated after Ukraine’s Security Service claimed to have uncovered a Hungarian military intelligence spy network operating in Zakarpattia. According to the report, the network was “testing the waters” regarding local sentiment and potential reactions to the possible deployment of “Hungarian peacekeepers” in the region.
Subsequently, Budapest announced the expulsion of two Ukrainian diplomats, accusing them of espionage. In response, Ukraine expelled two Hungarian diplomats.
It was also reported that a Ukrainian citizen who had previously worked as a diplomat was detained in Budapest and later deported.
