Hungarian Foreign Minister denies leaking EU sensitive information to Russia

MaticHoleFiller · 2026-03-29T23:24:47+00:00

The European Commission has demanded that the Hungarian government explain reports that Foreign Minister Szijjártó leaked sensitive information to the Russian Foreign Minister. Szijjártó denied the incident and called the reports fake news. Recently, Hungary's relations with the EU have been tense due to the government blocking aid to Ukraine.

MaticHoleFiller

2026-03-29 23:24:47

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Source: Xinhua News Agency

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 24 - The European Commission on the 23rd requested an explanation from the Hungarian government regarding a report by the Washington Post about Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó leaking sensitive EU information to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Szijjártó denied the reported situation.

The Washington Post reported on the 21st, citing a European security official, that Szijjártó frequently called Lavrov during breaks in EU meetings to “report in real time the content of discussions” and suggest possible countermeasures.

European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper stated on the 23rd that “the trust relationship between member states and between them and the EU is crucial for the work of the EU,” and “we look forward to an explanation from the Hungarian government.”

A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry stated that the situation mentioned in the Washington Post is “very serious,” and discussions within the EU, including foreign ministers’ meetings, are “confidential” and should not be leaked.

Szijjártó called the related report “fake news” and “meaningless conspiracy theories.” Hungary’s minister responsible for EU affairs, János Kóka, posted on social media that the conversation between the Hungarian and Russian foreign ministers is “completely normal.”

Hungary’s recent relationship with the EU has been tense. Due to the belief that Ukraine has deliberately cut off the supply of Russian crude oil to Hungary since January of this year, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked the EU from providing a €90 billion (approximately $104 billion) aid loan to Ukraine at the EU summit on the 19th. Leaders from several EU countries accused Orbán of undermining the EU decision-making mechanism to win the parliamentary elections scheduled for April, while Orbán claimed that Ukraine and the EU are attempting to drag Hungary into the Ukrainian crisis. (Ou Sa)

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