Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, has reportedly been keeping his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, informed about the details of European Union meetings for several years, according to a Washington Post report. Szijjártó plays a significant role in Viktor Orbán‘s government, which is aligned with Russia’s interests in Europe. This administration has a history of supporting Russian interests within the EU and NATO, including efforts to obstruct support packages intended for Ukraine.
Currently, Hungary is utilising its veto power to block a critical €90 million EU loan for Kyiv. Orbán is also firmly opposing Ukraine’s accession to the EU.
An anonymous European security official cited in the Washington Post said that “every single EU meeting for years has essentially had Moscow behind the table” because of the strong connections Szijjártó maintains with Lavrov. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Szijjártó has made 16 official visits to Moscow and has been known to make phone calls during breaks at EU meetings to provide Lavrov with real-time updates regarding discussions and potential solutions.
When asked about the report on social media by Radosław Sikorski, Poland’s Foreign Minister, Szijjártó dismissed it as “fake news,” suggesting it was part of a strategy to influence Hungarian opinion ahead of the upcoming election. Additionally, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk remarked that the notion of “Orbán’s people” conveying information to the Kremlin regarding EU matters should come as no surprise, emphasising that this has long been suspected.
The article also notes emerging accusations that Russian intelligence proposed an assassination attempt on Orbán to enhance his popularity in light of the forthcoming parliamentary elections on 12 April. Orbán is now confronting the most significant challenge to his 16-year tenure. His main opponent, Péter Magyar, has committed to addressing corruption, restoring the rule of law, and reintegrating Hungary with the European Union if elected, through his Tisza party.
