EU ‘concerned’ by reports Hungary’s foreign minister leaked information to Russia

Mr Peter Szijjarto is accused of regularly calling Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to pass on information. Read more at straitstimes.com.

BRUSSELS - The European Union executive says reports that Hungary’s foreign minister passed sensitive information about European Union negotiations to Russia were “greatly concerning”.

On March 21, the Washington Post newspaper quoted serving or former European security officials as saying Mr Peter Szijjarto regularly called his Russian counterpart, Mr Sergey Lavrov, during breaks in EU meetings to give “direct reports on what was discussed” and suggest possible courses of action.

Mr Szijjarto has described the report as “fake news” and “senseless conspiracy theories”.

But Hungary’s minister for European affairs, Mr Janos Boka, said “it is perfectly normal for the Hungarian foreign minister to speak by telephone with his Russian counterpart”.

“What is less understandable is that his EU counterparts don’t do the same,” Mr Boka said on his Facebook page.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is one of the few EU leaders to maintain close ties with Russia amid Moscow’s war in Ukraine.