The European Union and Germany have expressed deep concern over reports alleging that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjarto regularly briefed Russia on confidential EU negotiations. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has launched an investigation into what he referred to as "wiretapping," although the original report did not mention such surveillance, instead accusing Szijjarto of deliberately informing his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.
According to a Washington Post report citing unnamed serving or former EU security officials, Szijjarto allegedly called Lavrov during breaks in EU foreign ministers' meetings to provide "direct reports on what was discussed" and suggest possible courses of action. Szijjarto dismissed the allegations as "fake news" and "senseless conspiracy theories." The European Commission and German Foreign Ministry, while not treating the claims as corroborated, demanded an investigation and clarifications, with an EU spokeswoman calling the allegations deeply concerning and emphasizing the fundamental importance of trust among member states.
This incident occurs amid a closely fought election campaign in Hungary, where Orbán faces a significant challenge from a breakaway candidate, and as Orbán seeks to block or delay a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine, demanding the resumption of oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline first. European leaders have accused Orbán of using Ukraine as leverage for electoral purposes, while Orbán has in turn accused the EU of meddling in Hungary's elections as he pursues a fifth term.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the Washington Post report "shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone," noting long-standing suspicions. Hungary, a member of both the EU and NATO, maintains arguably the closest ties to Moscow of any alliance member during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, exacerbating internal EU tensions and undermining trust within the bloc. The situation highlights ongoing geopolitical friction and challenges to EU unity.
Source: www.dw.com