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Hungary’s government lobbied in favor of Russian interests within the European Union, including efforts to weaken sanctions, according to a joint investigation by international media outlets.
Leaked recordings suggest that Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó regularly shared details of closed EU diplomatic discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Sharing confidential EU discussions
Journalists report that Szijjártó briefed Lavrov on internal EU meetings, including a Foreign Affairs Council session he personally attended in August 2024. In one call, he relayed remarks made by Lithuania’s then foreign minister Gabrielius Landsbergis.
Landsbergis later confirmed the exchange, warning that such leaks suggest the presence of a “mole” in European and NATO discussions.
Efforts to weaken sanctions
In separate conversations, Szijjártó reportedly told Russian officials he was working to:
- delay or block EU sanctions packages
- remove Russian entities from санкційні списки
- protect banks and companies linked to Russian energy projects
He claimed to have already excluded dozens of entities from sanctions lists and sought additional arguments from Moscow to justify further exemptions based on Hungary’s national interests.
Energy interests and political stance
Hungary and Slovakia reportedly coordinated to delay sanctions decisions, aiming to secure continued access to Russian oil and gas.
Publicly, Budapest framed its позиція as a response to EU plans to phase out Russian energy imports. However, the leaked conversations suggest a broader effort to shield Russian economic interests.
Fallout in the EU
Following the revelations, EU institutions reportedly limited Hungary’s access to sensitive information, with some meetings now held in smaller groups due to fears of leaks to Moscow.
The case has intensified concerns about unity within the EU and raised questions about trust and information security among member states.
