Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has admitted that he has been in contact with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during European Union meetings, confirming reports that had previously been dismissed by Budapest as “fake news.”
The Washington Post (WaPo), citing several current and former European security officials, reported that Szijjártó regularly called his Russian counterpart during breaks in EU ministerial meetings to provide “direct reports on what was discussed” and suggest possible courses of action.
According to Euronews, speaking on Monday at a campaign event in Keszthely, Szijjártó confirmed that he maintains contact with counterparts outside the EU, including Lavrov, arguing that such communication is a routine part of diplomacy. Szijjártó said:
“Yes, these issues must be discussed with our partners outside the European Union. I talk not only to the Russian Foreign Minister, but also to our American, Turkish, Israeli, Serbian and others before and after European Union Council meetings.”
“What I say may sound harsh, but diplomacy is about talking to the leaders of other countries.”
In a video posted on social media on Tuesday, Szijjártó rejected accusations that he had violated any rules, insisting that no classified information is discussed at the ministerial level.
“Every minister brings their phone into the room except me,” Szijjártó said. “The suggestion that there are any security protocols falls into the category of stupidity.”
Hungary remains one of the few EU countries to maintain regular ties with Moscow and continues to import significant volumes of Russian energy despite broader EU efforts to reduce dependence.
Szijjártó has visited Moscow 16 times since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. His most recent trip was on March 4, when he met Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
The allegations on Szijjártó maintaining contacts with Lavrov have raised concern in Brussels.
European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper described the reports as “greatly concerning.” She stated that trust between member states and EU institutions is fundamental to the bloc’s functioning and said the Commission had asked Budapest for clarification.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the claims reported by the WaPo newspaper “should not surprise anyone.”
“We have suspected this for a long time,” Tusk wrote on X on Sunday.
The controversy comes amid rising political tensions ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary elections on April 12. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party faces a strong challenge from opposition leader Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party, which is leading in independent polls.
Meanwhile, the few polls showing Fidesz winning are funded by the Fidesz-controlled government, including the Orbán cabinet-funded Nézőpont Institute, the Centre for Fundamental Rights, funded in the Hungarian national budget, and the US-based McLaughlin & Associates, whose CEO John McLaughlin proudly serves as an adviser to Viktor Orbán.
Magyar has called for an investigation into what he described as a possible act of treason following allegations that confidential EU information may have been shared with Moscow. He said the claims suggest collusion with Russia at the highest levels of government.
Posting on social media on Monday, Magyar wrote: “If confirmed, this would amount to treason, which carries a potential life sentence. A future TISZA [sic] government will immediately investigate the matter.”
He also accused the government of working with Russia, “thereby betraying Hungarian and European interests.”
Orbán on Monday rejected the allegations reported by WaPo, lashing out at the claims that his foreign minister had passed sensitive EU information to Moscow, according to AFP.
Writing on Facebook, he said that “eavesdropping on a member of government is a serious attack on Hungary,” adding that he had instructed the justice minister to investigate the matter.
Independent opinion polls, cited by AFP, suggest Orbán is in a weakened position ahead of the vote; it remains unclear whether he is helped or harmed by endorsements from Trump and Putin.