Hungary’s Foreign Minister Confirms Regular Contact with Lavrov During EU Meetings

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has confirmed that he has been in regular contact with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov “before and after” closed-door meetings of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, following revelations about systematic communication during meeting breaks in Brussels.

Diplomatic Justification and Concerns

Szijjártó, speaking at a campaign event in Keszthely on Monday night, admitted to having such conversations. He justified them by arguing that EU decisions in areas such as energy, the automotive industry and security directly affect Budapest’s relations with partners outside the bloc. He stated, “Yes, these issues should be discussed with our partners outside the European Union. I talk not only with the Russian foreign minister, but likewise with the American, Turkish, Israeli, Serbian and others before and after the EU Council meetings.” He added, “What I’m saying may sound harsh, but diplomacy means talking to the leaders of other countries.”

Szijjártó also dismissed allegations that he breached any security protocols during the Foreign Affairs Council meetings, stating, “Every minister brings their phone into the chamber. To say there are any security protocols falls into the category of nonsense.”

Revelations and Initial Responses

The revelations stem from a report published by The Washington Post over the weekend, which detailed that Szijjártó was in constant contact with Lavrov during meetings in Brussels, including during breaks, to provide his Russian counterpart with “real-time information on what was being discussed” and to consider possible solutions. According to the report, these communications have effectively allowed Moscow to have a presence at “virtually every EU meeting for years.”

Initially, the Hungarian government dismissed claims of talks with Moscow as “fake news and lies.” Szijjártó himself described the accusations as part of a compromising campaign aimed at influencing Hungary’s elections, labeling them as “crazy conspiracy theories” and “Ukrainian propaganda.”

EU Response and Investigation

The allegations prompted a strong response from the European Union, given that member states are bound by the principle of loyal cooperation and that the content of such meetings is considered confidential. The European Commission called on Hungary to provide clarification on the matter, describing the publications as “disturbing.” EC spokeswoman Anita Hipper stated, “Trust between member states, and between them and the institutions, is fundamental to the function of the EU… We expect the Hungarian government to provide clarifications.”

A spokesman for the German foreign ministry emphasized the seriousness of the case, stating, “These allegations are very serious. Negotiations between EU foreign ministers are confidential and based on the founding principles of the Union. We will not tolerate a breach of these principles.”

Restricted Access and Growing Concerns

In response to the allegations, European Union officials have reportedly begun restricting Hungary’s access to classified intelligence and are increasingly holding high-level meetings in a limited format, such as the Weimar Triangle or cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic states, deliberately excluding members deemed less reliable to protect sensitive strategic planning.

Reactions from Other European Leaders

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that Hungarian ministers passing “every detail” of EU meetings to the Kremlin “shouldn’t surprise anyone,” adding, “We have had such suspicions for a long time.” He also noted that Lithuania had previously raised security concerns regarding Hungarian representatives within NATO, even requesting the exclusion of the Hungarian delegation from a NATO meeting in 2019 due to fears of information being passed to Moscow.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis confirmed that in 2024, another member of the alliance had also raised concerns about a possible transfer of information by Hungarian representatives to Moscow.

Political Implications in Hungary

Peter Magyar, the leading candidate in polls ahead of Hungary’s upcoming election, has called for an investigation into the alleged sharing of confidential EU information between Budapest and Moscow, describing it as possible treason punishable by life imprisonment. He stated, “If confirmed, this would amount to high treason… A future TISA government will immediately investigate the case.”

Investigation into Alleged Wiretapping

In response to the scandal, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán ordered an investigation into the “wiretapping” of Szijjártó, following a report in the pro-government newspaper Mandiner alleging that foreign intelligence services had wiretapped Szijjártó with the help of Hungarian journalist Szabolch Pani. Pani, who has repeatedly written about Russian influence in Hungary, claims he was targeted in a compromising campaign to discredit him.

Broader Concerns About Russian Influence

Hungary is not the only country facing scrutiny regarding potential ties to Russia. German and European lawmakers and diplomats have expressed concerns that the far-right in Germany may also be abusing their access to a database of thousands of internal EU documents. Suspicions are growing that information may be leaking to China or Russia through members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Diplomats are increasingly cautious about sharing sensitive information in meetings involving all 27 EU member states, recognizing the potential for leaks through Hungary or Germany.