Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó has acknowledged that he engages in regular dialogue with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during private European Union meetings regarding foreign affairs. This confirmation follows reports that such communications occur during breaks at meetings in Brussels.
A recent article published by The Washington Post on Sunday revealed that Szijjártó remains in consistent contact with Lavrov throughout the Brussels meetings. These allegations are significant, given that EU ministers are obligated to uphold the principle of loyal cooperation and that the discussions during these meetings are confidential.
On Monday, the European Commission requested clarification from Hungary on this matter, describing the reports as “concerning.” Previously, the Hungarian government had dismissed these allegations as falsehoods.
However, at an election campaign event in Keszthely, Hungary, Szijjártó confirmed the Commission’s call for clarification, asserting that EU decisions concerning energy, the automotive industry, and security significantly impact Hungary’s relations with external partners.
Minister Szijjártó underscored the importance of dialogue with international partners, calling it a fundamental aspect of diplomacy.
He elaborated, stating, “These issues must be discussed with our partners outside the European Union. I communicate not only with the Russian Foreign Minister but also with my American, Turkish, Israeli, Serbian, and other counterparts, both before and after meetings of the Council of the European Union.”
Furthermore, on Tuesday, Minister Szijjártó published a video on social media in which he refuted claims of any violations of security protocols during Foreign Affairs Council meetings, emphasising that secrets are not discussed at these meetings.
These developments emerge amidst rising political tensions in the lead-up to Hungary’s parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán‘s Fidesz party faces a severe challenge from opposition leader Péter Magyar‘s Tisza Party, which currently leads in opinion polls.
It is noteworthy that Orbán’s government remains one of the few in Europe to sustain consistent relationships with the Kremlin. Hungary continues to import substantial amounts of fossil fuels from Russia, despite EU pressure to reduce its energy dependency on Moscow. The country also has a stance opposed to EU assistance for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Minister Szijjártó has made 16 visits to Moscow, with the most recent trip occurring on 4 March, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin.
