During a meeting with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto at the Kremlin, Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that Russia will return two Hungarian-Ukrainian nationals who were taken as prisoners during the ongoing Ukraine conflict. This announcement aligns with discussions that took place earlier in the week between Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had raised the issue of the POWs over a phone call.

Putin clarified that these individuals hold dual citizenship and had been forcibly conscripted into the conflict, indicating a humanitarian aspect to the decision to release them. He expressed his agreement to the Prime Minister's request for their immediate return, emphasizing the quick response to Hungary's concerns regarding its citizens caught in the conflict.

This move could signal a potential thaw in relations between Russia and Hungary, amidst broader tensions in the region due to the war in Ukraine. Hungary has maintained a somewhat unique position within the EU regarding its approach to the Ukraine conflict, and this development may highlight its willingness to engage with Russia on humanitarian grounds despite prevailing political unrest in Europe over its actions in Ukraine.