Hungarian FM admits regular contact with Russian counterpart during EU meetings

Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has acknowledged that he maintains regular contact with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during private European Union meetings, confirming reports that had previously been dismissed by the Hungarian government as “fake news.”

The admission follows a report by The Washington Post alleging that Szijjártó routinely communicated with Lavrov during breaks in EU foreign affairs meetings in Brussels. The claims have raised concerns within the bloc, where member states are bound by principles of confidentiality and sincere cooperation, Euronews reports.

The European Commission described the reports as “concerning” and called on Hungary to provide clarification.

Speaking at a campaign event in Keszthely, Szijjártó defended his actions, arguing that engagement with global partners is central to diplomatic practice. “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,” he said.

“What I say may sound harsh, but diplomacy is about talking to the leaders of other countries,” he added.

In a video posted on social media Szijjártó rejected allegations that he had violated any security protocols, insisting that ministerial-level discussions do not involve sensitive information. “Every minister brings their phone into the room except me. The suggestion that there are any security protocols falls into the category of stupidity,” he said.

The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions ahead of Hungary’s parliamentary elections, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party faces a strong challenge from opposition leader Péter Magyar and his Tisza Party.

Hungary remains one of the few European Union members maintaining close ties with Moscow and continues to rely heavily on Russian energy imports. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Szijjártó has visited Moscow 16 times, most recently on March 4, when he met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.

By Vafa Guliyeva