Russia vows retaliation after Hungary expels ten Russian diplomats

Budapest declared the expulsion of ten Russian diplomats, citing one outlet security concerns, and Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zaharova responded that Moscow will definitely act in kind, though she could not specify the exact nature of the retaliation. The Kremlin’s communication has been mixed, with another spokesperson, Dmitrij Peskov, describing the forthcoming Russian answer as "appropriate" and warning of negative effects on bilateral ties while still expressing interest in maintaining cooperation.

Foreign-policy analyst Anton Bendarzsevskij of the Oeconomus Gazdaságkutató Alapítvány expects a reciprocal move, noting that Russia’s diplomatic presence in Budapest is larger than Hungary’s in Moscow, so a tit-for-tat could have a greater impact on Hungarian operations. He cautioned that economic ties are unlikely to be jeopardised immediately, but further Hungarian actions could trigger harsher measures such as restrictions on Hungarian companies operating in Russia or on specific exports. The situation remains fluid as Russian officials work out the precise response.