Szijjártó-Lavrov leaked phone call: EU, NATO leaders shocked by deferential tone, “bizarre” relationship

Yesterday, results from a joint investigation by multiple investigative media outlets revealed the close relationship between the Russian and Hungarian foreign ministers, Lavrov and Szijjártó. It appears that the Hungarian government tried to help Russian oligarchs, the Russian shadow fleet, and even some Russian companies, while torpedoing EU sanctions. EU and NATO leaders were shocked to read the news.

Is Hungary carrying out Russia’s bidding?

As we wrote yesterday, a phone call between Szijjártó and Lavrov was revealed in which Szijjártó offered his help in the case of a Russian oligarch’s sister affected by EU sanctions, using a subservient tone. Further audio recordings of their phone calls, not disclosed yesterday, revealed how the Hungarian foreign minister tried to help the Russian shadow fleet evade EU sanctions and tried to remove Russian oligarchs and companies from the sanctions list.

The Telegraph wrote that the report – “published by The Insider, an independent Russian media outlet, along with four regional media organisations – VSquare, Delfi, FrontStory and the Investigative Centre of Ján Kuciak – has added to the growing sense that Hungary is working from within the bloc to carry out Russia’s bidding.”

Szijjártó deferential; his actions deeply disturbing

Polish Premier Donald Tusk held a press conference yesterday with Irish PM Micheál Martin and described the news as disheartening and deeply disturbing. “What these recordings have revealed is more than just the political dependency of the Budapest government on Moscow; it has exposed just how unacceptable and bizarre this relationship truly is,” he added. Tusk is a fierce critic of PM Orbán due to his stance towards Zelenskyy and Putin.

Ireland’s prime minister described it as a sinister development and categorised the tone of the conversation between Szijjártó and Lavrov as deferential and unacceptable.

Ukraine credit blocked by Orbán

Currently, the Hungarian government is blocking an EU credit package worth €90 billion for Ukraine in response to Ukraine’s decision to halt deliveries of energy resources via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia. Previously, a Druzhba oil pumping station was destroyed by Russian attacks, so Ukraine says it will take time to rebuild it.

Reacting to yesterday’s published article, Szijjártó said there was nothing new under the sun; he had only told Lavrov what he had told the public: Hungary does not agree with the sanctions because they harm the EU more than Russia. He did not explain why he helped, for example, Russian companies linked to the Russian shadow fleet to be exempted from EU sanctions.

If you missed our previous articles concerning the Russia-Hungary relationship:

• Putin may trigger a global food crisis with his latest move hitting Hungary hard despite “friendship”
• Can Hungary lose NATO, EU membership due to its ‘too close’ Russia ties?