Putin, Orban discuss Hungarians in Ukraine's army captured by Russia, Kremlin says

Politics Putin, Orban discuss Hungarians in Ukraine's army captured by Russia, Kremlin says March 3, 2026 3:48 pm • 2 min read by Martin Fornusek The leaders of Hungary and Russia discussed Hungarians serving in the Ukrainian army who ended up in Russian captivity, among other topics, during a phone call on March 3, the Kremlin said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban , widely regarded as the EU's most Moscow-friendly leader, held a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid an escalating spat between Kyiv and Budapest. The leaders discussed "Hungarian nationals that were mobilized into the Ukrainian Armed Forces and subsequently captured as (Prisoners of War)," the Kremlin's press service said. Kyiv and Moscow have held numerous exchanges of military and civilian captives during the full-scale war. Only men holding Ukrainian citizenship are subject to mobilization, and a double Ukrainian-Hungarian citizenship is not recognized by Ukrainian law. Become a member – go ad‑free Hungary has recently sharpened its criticism of Ukraine's conscription efforts, underscoring that it also impacts Ukrainians of Hungarian ethnic descent. There are about 80,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine's westernmost Zakarpattia Oblast. About 670 service members of Hungarian ethnicity were serving in Ukraine's Armed Forces as of December. Budapest has repeatedly accused Kyiv of discriminating against its Hungarian minority, primarily through language laws, a claim that Ukraine has rejected. According to the Kremlin's press service, the two leaders also discussed agreements reached during their meeting in Moscow last November , as well as the situation in Iran and its possible implications for the energy markets . Become a member – go ad‑free "Vladimir Putin commended Hungary's principled stance in support of resolving the conflict (in Ukraine) via political and diplomatic means as well as its overall commitment to pursuing a balanced and sovereign course in international affairs...