Amidst the escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the two countries of Poland and Hungary have taken different stances in response. While Poland has offered a helping hand to its Ukrainian neighbours, with humanitarian assistance and support for the military forces, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has refused to budge from his stance of not giving up Russian gas supplies.
This diverging point of view from two neighbouring countries is particularly poignant when considering that just a few years ago, Poland and Hungary were standing together in unity. Now, however, their positions are worlds apart – while one is providing aid to a nation facing war, the other is seemingly doing nothing but watch from the sidelines.
Interestingly enough, this unique situation has been documented in an upcoming documentary produced by HBO called ‘Poland v Hungary: The War Next Door’. The film explores how both nations’ reactions to the conflict highlight stark divisions within Central Europe – as well as broader issues concerning international relations and geopolitics. It also delves into questions such as why Hungary chose to side with Russia over Ukraine and whether or not this decision will have lasting consequences on its relationship with other European countries.
As many people around the world continue to grapple with the aftermath of this devastating war in Ukraine, ‘Poland v Hungary: The War Next Door’ provides an insightful look at how two neighbouring nations dealt with this crisis differently. We encourage everyone to watch this documentary and gain a better understanding of the decisions made by both countries during this turbulent period in history.
