Hungarian FM Szijjártó admits regular contacts with Lavrov during closed EU meetings

In a dramatic escalation of a major diplomatic scandal, Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has publicly admitted that he routinely calls his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov before and after closed-door meetings of the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council.

The confirmation, delivered on Monday at a pre-election rally in Keszthely, follows explosive reporting by The Washington Post that Szijjártó has for years provided Moscow with real-time briefings on sensitive EU discussions – effectively giving Russia a seat at the table in Brussels.

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The Washington Post investigation and the core allegations

According to the Washington Post investigation published on 21 March 2026, citing multiple current and former European security officials, Szijjártó has made a habit of stepping out during breaks in EU ministerial meetings to phone Lavrov. He reportedly relayed “live reports” on what was being discussed among EU foreign ministers and floated possible courses of action Moscow might take in response. One European security source told the newspaper that “every single EU meeting for years has basically had Moscow behind the table.”

The practice allegedly dates back years and continued even after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. During this period, Szijjártó has visited Moscow at least 16 times, maintaining one of the closest high-level channels between an EU member state and the Kremlin.

Szijjártó’s admission and defence

Until Monday, the Hungarian government had dismissed the Washington Post report as “fake news” designed to damage Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party ahead of parliamentary elections. In his rally speech and a subsequent video posted on social media, Szijjártó reversed course and openly confirmed the contacts:

“Yes, these issues need to be discussed with our partners outside the European Union. I speak not only with the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, but also with our American, Turkish, Israeli, Serbian, and other partners before and after Council of the EU meetings… Diplomacy consists of talking to leaders of other countries.”

He insisted that no classified secrets are discussed at ministerial level and claimed that other EU ministers also bring their phones into the room, dismissing any notion of violated security protocols as “nonsense.”

Accusations of high treason

The admission has triggered fierce accusations of high treason from across the political spectrum – most prominently from Péter Magyar, leader of the opposition Tisza Party and the current frontrunner to unseat Orbán.

At a campaign event, Magyar declared:

“The fact that the Hungarian foreign minister… has been reporting to the Russians practically minute by minute from every EU meeting is outright treason. This man has not only betrayed his own country, but Europe as well.”

Magyar, whose party is polling strongly ahead of the elections, vowed that a future Tisza-led government would launch an immediate criminal investigation into the matter, noting that treason in Hungary can carry a life sentence. He described Szijjártó’s actions as “colluding with Russia” and a direct betrayal of both Hungarian and European interests.

Ukrainian media and several Eastern European officials have echoed the outrage, framing the alleged leaks as a profound breach of EU solidarity at a time when Russia continues its war of aggression against Ukraine.

EU reaction and broader context

The European Commission has described the reports as “greatly concerning” and has formally demanded explanations from Budapest regarding the possible transmission of confidential EU information to Russian authorities.

The scandal fits into a well-documented pattern: under Viktor Orbán, Hungary has repeatedly blocked or delayed EU sanctions packages against Russia, vetoed military aid to Ukraine, and maintained warm diplomatic and economic ties with the Kremlin. Critics argue that Szijjártó’s regular briefings go far beyond ordinary diplomacy and constitute systematic undermining of the EU’s collective security and foreign policy.

As Hungary heads into the 12 April parliamentary elections, the affair has become a central campaign issue. For the opposition, it is proof that the Orbán government’s pro-Russia stance has crossed into outright disloyalty to the European project. For the government, it is portrayed as standard diplomatic pragmatism in defence of Hungarian national interests.

For now, the revelations have left Hungary’s European partners wondering how to handle Orbán – and whether they can continue doing business as usual with Budapest – should he secure another term in the upcoming elections.

Caption: Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in MTK Sportpark in Budapest, Hungary, 21 March 2026. The Hungarian edition of CPAC is held by the Center for Fundamental Rights for the fifth consecutive year. EPA/Zoltan Balogh