New leaks reveal Szijjártó briefing Russia’s Lavrov on key EU summit

Published on 08/04/2026 - 18:15 GMT+2

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, successful 2023 to little him connected a statement among EU leaders implicit whether to unfastened accession talks with Ukraine astatine a cardinal acme successful Brussels, according to 1 of the transcripts of leaked recordings published by respective Hungarian investigative quality outlets.

The transcript, stemming from a telephone recorded astatine an EU acme connected 14 December 2023, reveals that Szijjártó stepped retired of the gathering to telephone Lavrov and little him connected the authorities of negotiations. It besides includes Lavrov reportedly saying: “Sometimes good-willed nonstop blackmailing is the champion option.”

The transcripts and audio recordings — obtained by media outlets VSquare, Frontstory, Delfi Estonia, The Insider and the Investigative Centre of Ján Kuciak — travel days earlier Hungary's pivotal wide predetermination connected Sunday.

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year regularisation faces its strongest situation yet from absorption person Péter Magyar, whose Tisza Party presently tops the polls.

This contention has besides placed Hungary’s adjacent ties to Russia squarely astatine the centre of the campaign, fuelling tensions wrong the European Union.

The Washington Post had antecedently reported that Szijjártó had called Russian officials during breaks successful Foreign Affairs Council meetings successful Brussels. The curate aboriginal said specified contacts were regular diplomatic practice, conducted earlier and aft assembly sessions.

After the 2023 telephone betwixt Szijjártó's and Lavrov, Orbán dropped his veto and near for a java break, allowing the different 26 EU leaders to hold connected opening rank talks with Ukraine. Szijjártó remained successful the room, pursuing the negotiations adjacent aft Orbán departed.

The caller leaks besides see different transcript, dated 2 July 2024 — during Hungary's rotating presidency of the EU Council — which captures Szijjártó calling Lavrov again to put a gathering betwixt Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin successful Moscow.

At the time, Orbán was connected a self-styled bid mission, having already met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He faced beardown disapproval successful Brussels for utilizing the EU presidency to beforehand a unilateral overseas policy.

During the call, Szijjártó besides appeared to emphasise the diplomatic clout of Orbán's visit. "We cannot disagreement the two, but I deliberation it increases the value that helium is the Chair of the European Union," helium said, according to the transcript.

In addition, the leaked recordings uncover a transition successful which Szijjártó offered to stock an EU papers relating to Ukraine's accession negotiations.

After Lavrov sought the nonstop substance of a compromise connected connection rights for Ukraine’s nationalist minorities — confirmed by Szijjártó arsenic decisive — the curate offered to nonstop it directly.

"I volition nonstop it to you. It's not a problem," Szijjártó told Lavrov. "I instantly bash it. I nonstop it to my embassy successful Moscow, and my ambassador volition guardant it to your main of staff, and past it's astatine your disposal."

Szijjártó responded to the revelations connected societal media, calling the merchandise of the recordings “an unusually crude and unfastened concealed work intervention.”

He added that the calls showed Hungary stands for peace, advocates for Hungarians successful Ukraine, fights for affordable Russian lipid and gas, and views definite actions by Brussels arsenic “very unsafe and a implicit tragedy.”

Opposition person Péter Magyar had antecedently characterised Szijjártó's alleged behaviour arsenic treasonous. "This is an unfastened betrayal of Hungarian and European interests," Magyar said successful March.

The European Commission besides raised concerns successful March, calling connected Hungary to clarify the allegations, which it described arsenic profoundly concerning.