VSquare published new audio recordings of Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in which Szijjártó promises to hand over to Russia a document regarding negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU, UNN reports.
Details
As the publication writes, on December 14, 2023, at a meeting of the European Council in Brussels, EU leaders gathered to begin accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, but faced strong opposition from one of their countries: Hungary.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened to veto the decision and used the issue as leverage in his disputes with Brussels over more than 22 billion euros in cohesion and recovery funds frozen due to Hungary's violations of the rule of law principles.
It is alleged that Orbán, as always, was accompanied by Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who, during one of the breaks, left the meeting room to call his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
"Petr, how are you? I'm fine," Lavrov greeted Szijjártó, who dutifully recounted how the negotiations were going and what Hungary's plan for the meeting entailed.
As the publication notes, Lavrov undoubtedly liked what he heard. "Okay, good, yes, yes, great. Sometimes friendly direct blackmail is the best option," Lavrov added.
However, as the publication claims, Hungarian blackmail did not work this time.
Viktor Orbán left the room during the vote on opening EU accession talks for Ukraine – this was part of a pre-planned move (the German Chancellor sent Orbán out of the room for coffee), which allowed the other 26 leaders to make a unanimous decision, while Hungary abstained, thus saving face. Szijjártó, nevertheless, remained to observe the negotiations, informing the Kremlin almost in real-time.
The publication also adds that on July 2, 2024, when Orbán visited Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Szijjártó again called Lavrov to "inform him."
In addition, on July 4 of the same year, Szijjártó agreed to hand over to Russia a document regarding negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the EU. The Russian Foreign Minister asked for the text, saying he wanted to see the wording on national minorities.
Lavrov: "Listen, I also wanted to call and find out about the compromise you reached with the European Union regarding the opening of accession talks for Ukraine."
Szijjártó: "Yes."
Lavrov: "And there were reports that the wording on national minorities played a decisive role."
Szijjártó: "Absolutely, that's how it was. Absolutely."
Lavrov: "We are trying to get the text of the document, but..."
Szijjártó: "I will do it immediately. I will send it to my embassy in Moscow, and my ambassador will forward it to your chief of staff, and then it will be at your disposal."
Recall
The "hotline" between Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov provided Russia with strategic information on critical EU issues.