Ukraine to Summon Hungarian Diplomat Over Russia's Transfer of POWs with Dual Citizenship

Summons for the Hungarian Chargé d'Affaires

According to Главком: Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will summon Hungary's chargé d'affaires to clarify the circumstances surrounding Russia's handover of two Ukrainian prisoners of war who also hold Hungarian citizenship. The Ukrainian side has not received information about the freed individuals and intends to request access to them. This move highlights Kyiv's ongoing efforts to account for all its citizens detained by Russian forces.

Details of the Prisoner Transfer

Russia transferred two Ukrainian POWs with Hungarian citizenship, but Ukrainian officials were not informed of their identities. Vladimir Putin announced the release of these prisoners during a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. This meeting followed discussions on the matter with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Péter Szijjártó arrived in Moscow on March 4, 2026, on an urgent visit, the primary goal of which was to secure guarantees for the continued stable supply of energy carriers from Russia to Hungary. Ukraine's MFA plans to submit a request for access to the repatriated individuals to obtain reliable information.

“The Hungarian chargé d'affaires will be invited to the MFA to obtain reliable data. The Ukrainian side will also submit a request for access to the persons who have been returned,” stated Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This situation underscores the complexity of diplomatic relations between Ukraine, Hungary, and Russia, as the lack of information about the Ukrainian POWs causes concern in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials seek clear data on the freed individuals, a crucial step for protecting the rights of Ukrainian citizens regardless of their other citizenships. Furthermore, this incident could impact energy agreements between Hungary and Russia, which require careful monitoring from Ukraine. The case is a stark reminder of the challenges posed by dual citizens in international conflicts.