New recordings reveal how Hungarian government informed Russia about EU matters

Budapest (EFE).- Hungarian Foreign Affairs Minister Péter Szijjártó repeatedly promised internal European Union documents to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, according to recordings published on Wednesday by local media.

The recordings, published by VSquare, FrontStory, Delfi Estonia, The Insider, and the Ján Kuciak Investigative Center, contain conversations between the two ministers from Dec. 2023 to Aug. 2025.

«We have more calls between Sergei Lavrov and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó. These include discussion of Hungary’s role in blocking financial aid to Ukraine and impeding its accession negotiations with the EU. ‘Sometimes good-willed direct blackmailing is the best option,’ Lavrov told Szijjártó,» wrote Szabolcs Panyi, editor of VSquare, on X.

The Hungarian government, led by the ultranationalist Viktor Orbán, is Moscow’s best ally. Szijjártó often refers to Lavrov as «a friend.»

Panyi, a specialist in national security and intelligence, previously published a transcript of a 2020 call in which Szijjártó asked Lavrov for support for a political ally in Slovakia. This call suggests coordination between Budapest and Moscow regarding international affairs.

Szijjártó has said that calls with Lavrov are generally part of diplomacy.

In one of the published conversations, Lavrov asks Szijjártó to obtain an EU document related to Ukraine’s accession process.

«I will send it to you. No problem. I will do it immediately. I will send it to my embassy in Moscow, and my ambassador will forward it to your chief of staff. Then, it will be at your disposal!» the Hungarian foreign minister responded to the Russian minister’s request.

While Hungary held the EU presidency in Jul. 2024, Orbán traveled extensively and met with the presidents of Ukraine (Volodymyr Zelenskyy), Russia (Vladimir Putin), and China (Xi Jinping), in what he called a «peace mission.» However, it was not approved by other EU leaders, causing serious friction.

At that time, Szijjártó called Lavrov to coordinate the meeting with Putin, but they kept the conversation secret so that Hungary’s EU and NATO partners would not intervene.

Lavrov even asked if Orbán was traveling to Moscow as the Hungarian prime minister or as «the president of the EU.»

“We cannot divide the two, but I think that it increases the significance, that he is the Chair of European Union,” Szijjártó responded, according to VSquare investigation.

As of Wednesday, the Hungarian Foreign Minister neither confirmed nor denied speaking with Lavrov and affirmed that these conversations demonstrate Hungary’s commitment to peace, but did not refer to any specific conversations or content.

On Tuesday, Orbán acknowledged speaking with Vladimir Putin. Bloomberg News revealed this information during a conversation in which the Hungarian prime minister offered his «full support» to the Russian president.

Szijjártó stated on Sunday that following the publication of these recordings, there has been «interference by foreign secret services in the parliamentary elections» that Hungary is holding.

Meanwhile, polls predict Orbán would lose to the conservative Péter Magyar after 16 years of governing with an absolute majority. EFE

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