Leak fears grip EU as Hungary maintains 'open line' to Kremlin
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EU diplomats are concerned about Hungary's contacts with the Kremlin following reports that Budapest may have shared information from EU meetings with Moscow. At the same time, they note that Hungary cannot be excluded from key discussions. The alarm follows reporting that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto briefed
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Europe Leak fears grip EU as Hungary maintains 'open line' to Kremlin March 23, 2026 8:07 pm • 4 min read Prefer on Google by Tim Zadorozhnyy, Martin Fornusek EU diplomats are concerned about Hungary's contacts with the Kremlin following reports that Budapest may have shared information from EU meetings with Moscow. At the same time, they note that Hungary cannot be excluded from key discussions. The alarm follows reporting that Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto briefed his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, on discussions during EU meetings — a development that has reinforced long-standing suspicions within the bloc. Some officials have limited the scope of talks, but diplomats told the Kyiv Independent that Hungary's role in formal EU processes cannot be curtailed. Become a member – go ad‑free Information leaks deepen distrust Concerns about Hungary's role are not new. Diplomats say Budapest's "open line to the Kremlin " has been evident for years, but the latest revelations have sharpened unease. According to the Washington Post, Szijjarto maintained regular contact with Lavrov during EU meetings, at times sharing updates while discussions were still ongoing. EU Council meetings frequently involve sensitive negotiations on sanctions , military aid, and broader strategies aimed at pressuring Moscow. Become a member – go ad‑free During a Feb. 23 meeting , for example, member states discussed a proposed 20th sanctions package against Russia and a 90 billion euro ($107 billion) EU loan for Ukraine — both of which Hungary blocked amid a dispute with Kyiv over the Druzhba pipeline. Several diplomats said that such risks are now taken into account during talks. Some acknowledged they deliberately limit what they say in meetings, while others noted that participants assume sensitive information could be relayed to Moscow. "That's one reason why I take the floor only when strictly necessary and say just as much as necessary," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wr...
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