Hungary Coordinated Actions with Russia to Stall EU Accession Talks – Media

Hungary has been accused of systematically using the issue of Hungarian minority rights in Ukraine as a means to delay the country's negotiations for accession to the European Union. This assertion comes from VSquare.org, an investigative journalism network, which cites recordings of phone conversations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, dated between 2023 and 2025.

The investigation reveals that during numerous phone calls, Szijjarto provided Lavrov with critical insights regarding what he believed to be the Western coalition's preparations to intensify pressure on Russia to halt its aggressive actions. Journalists claim that Hungary attempted to position itself as a fifth column in Brussels, seeking advice or permission from Lavrov for actions that would be detrimental to both the EU and Ukraine but advantageous to Moscow. One intelligence officer noted that their relationship resembled that of a spy and an agent rather than that of equal foreign ministers.

The investigation also highlights conversations between Lavrov and Szijjarto that took place during the European Council meeting in Brussels on December 14, 2023, when negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova's EU accession were set to begin. Furthermore, discussions were held during Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Ukraine on July 2, 2024, ahead of the NATO summit in Washington, as well as on June 22, 2025, following the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Specifically, transcripts of the conversations between Lavrov and Szijjarto indicate a compromise reached with the EU regarding the initiation of Ukraine's accession talks, where minority rights played a crucial role. A primary concern for both ministers was the rights of minorities in Ukraine, which have long been used by the Kremlin as a justification for military actions not only against Ukraine but also in other countries with ethnic Russians or Russian-speaking populations.

In the weeks leading up to the July 2, 2024, phone call, diplomatic tensions between Hungary and the EU had reached a peak. Budapest once again blocked funding for Ukraine while the EU sought mechanisms to circumvent this veto. At stake was a list of 11 points that Hungary presented concerning the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia. The article notes that while Orban and Szijjarto officially advocated for the rights of ethnic Hungarians, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was secretly collaborating with Lavrov to promote the issue of Russian minority rights in Ukraine.

Additionally, Szijjarto discussed with Lavrov the European Commission's 2025 proposal for a gradual phase-out of Russian energy imports to the EU, labeling the initiative as 'idiotic.' From Orban's perspective, this proposal posed a threat not only to Hungary's overall relations with Russia but also to the support for the supply of raw materials and financial instruments that allowed for continued gas purchases from Russia. By the end of June 2025, Szijjarto announced that Russia had extended a decree allowing Hungary to pay for gas through Hungary's OTP Bank.

Szijjarto also mentioned coordination with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and their joint efforts in the EU Council. In June 2025, Hungary and Slovakia blocked the 18th package of EU sanctions, arguing that parallel EU plans to halt Russian energy supplies threatened their energy security. The conversation between Szijjarto and Lavrov reveals not only friendly contacts with Moscow but also a coordinated line between Budapest and Bratislava that influenced decisions across the EU. Given that EU sanctions require unanimity, even a single country can block them, which is why Hungary and Slovakia took advantage of their position by linking sanctions issues to energy security.