Germany has described the allegations as ‘very serious’, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has ordered an investigation into the alleged ‘wiretapping’.
Published on 23 March 2026
The European Commission has sought clarity from Hungary after a United States media outlet reported that the country’s foreign minister has passed information on negotiations with the EU to Russia.
The Washington Post reported on Saturday that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó regularly called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov during breaks in EU meetings to provide a direct report on “what was discussed” and possible next steps.
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Szijjarto has dismissed the report as “fake news” and a “senseless conspiracy theory”.
European Commission spokeswoman Anita Hipper said on Monday that “the relationship of trust between member states, and between them and the institution, is fundamental to the work of the EU.”
“We hope the Hungarian government will provide clarifications,” Hipper said.
The allegations come at a tense moment in relations between Budapest and the European Union. Many officials in Brussels are angry that Hungary continued to block a 90 billion euro ($104 billion) loan to Ukraine at a meeting of EU leaders last week.
Germany described the allegations against Hungary as “very serious”.
A German Foreign Ministry spokesman said, “Discussions within the EU, including among EU foreign ministers, are confidential.”
“We will not tolerate any violation by them,” he said.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a post on Twitter on Sunday that the Washington Post report “should not be a surprise to anyone”.
He further added, “That’s why I come on stage only when absolutely necessary and speak only as much as is necessary.”
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is one of the few EU leaders maintaining close ties with Moscow amid Russia’s war on Ukraine.
On Monday, he ordered an investigation into the wiretapping of his Foreign Minister.
“There is evidence that Hungary’s foreign minister was wiretapped, and we also have indications of who may be behind it. This should be investigated immediately,” he said without elaborating.
Orban, who has been in power since 2010, faces his toughest re-election bid yet on April 12, as the center-right opposition Tisza party leads in most polls.
