Leaked recordings reveal Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó regularly informed Russian officials about EU discussions and actively worked to undermine sanctions against Moscow.
Leaked Conversations Between Hungarian and Russian Officials
Transcripts and audio recordings of conversations between Szijjártó and Russian officials, including Sergey Lavrov, were obtained by a consortium of investigative agencies: VSquare, FRONTSTORY, Delfi Estonia, The Insider, and the Jan Kuciak Investigative Centre (ICJK).
Szijjártó’s Conversation with Lavrov
One conversation took place on August 30, 2024, shortly after Szijjártó’s return from St. Petersburg. Lavrov told Szijjártó that his visit to Russia was widely reported in Russian media.
Szijjártó asked, “Did I say something wrong?” Lavrov responded, “No, no, no. You only said that you pragmatically fight for the interests of your country.”
Efforts to Remove Sanctions
Lavrov then asked Szijjártó for assistance in removing Gulbahor Ismailova, the sister of oligarch Alisher Usmanov, from the EU sanctions list. Szijjártó pledged to help, stating that Hungary and Slovakia would jointly submit a request to the EU for her removal the following week and would “do everything” to ensure its success.
Seven months later, Ismailova was removed from the sanctions list.
Criticism of the European Union
The diplomats focused on criticizing the European Union and its leaders. Szijjártó concluded the conversation by stating, “I am always at your disposal.”
Sharing European Diplomatic Information
Szijjártó regularly informed Lavrov about discussions among European diplomats, including details from the August 2024 EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. He recounted Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis’s statement that a 12 percent surcharge was being added to each rocket and missile, referencing Landsbergis’s argument that Russia was partially funding its war against Ukraine with profits from gas and oil sold to European clients like Hungary and Slovakia.
Sikorski’s Commentary
Politologist Dominik Hejj shared the August 2024 conversation recording on social media, writing, “Minister Szijjártó negotiating sanctions lists in a conversation with Lavrov.” Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski commented, “More importantly, both are against LGBT and OZE-Sroze,” making an ironic reference to a Polish politician’s criticism of renewable energy investments.
Undermining Sanctions on Russian Fleet
Transcripts of a conversation between Szijjártó and Russian Deputy Energy Minister Pavel Sorokin revealed that Hungary was working to overturn the EU sanctions package targeting the Russian shadow fleet. In a June 2025 conversation, Szijjártó complained that the EU had refused to show him documents related to the proposed sanctions on 2Rivers, a Dubai-based company trading Russian oil.
Szijjártó explained that the EU claimed there was no clear Hungarian interest to identify, and therefore Hungary could not legally request its removal from the list.
Negotiations Regarding Sanctions
Szijjártó also informed Sorokin about the status of negotiations regarding the 18th package of EU sanctions. He explained that the vote had not yet been scheduled due to Hungary and Slovakia’s postponement, which would remain in effect until the EU agreed to “make an exception” for those countries and “allow them to continue buying Russian gas and oil.”
The package was proposed by the European Commission on June 10, 2025, but Szijjártó announced on June 23 that Hungary and Slovakia were blocking it as a “response to the EU’s plans regarding the gradual withdrawal of Russian energy imports.” In his conversation with Sorokin a week later, he said he was fighting the entire package and trying to save as many Russian entities as possible.
“I am doing everything I can to overturn it. I have already removed 72 entities from the list, leaving 128,” Szijjártó said. “If the Russians can help me identify direct and negative consequences for Hungary, I would be very grateful. If I can show something like that, I will have a chance to convince the EU.” Szijjártó also sought the removal of Russian banks from the sanctions list.
EU Adoption of Sanctions Package
After weeks of delays from Hungary and Slovakia, the European Union finally adopted the 18th package of sanctions on July 18, 2025. 2Rivers was included, prompting it to begin the process of self-dissolution. The restrictions also dealt a serious blow to the Russian shadow fleet and attempts to circumvent sanctions through these vessels.