Leaked Calls Reveal Hungarian Minister Shared EU Sanctions Data with Russia’s Lavrov.

Hungary’s Ties with Moscow Under Scrutiny

According to TSN.ua: Recordings of phone conversations between the foreign ministers of Hungary and Russia have been released by journalists, exposing Budapest’s cooperation with the Kremlin. The discussions center on lifting sanctions imposed on the family of Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov. The tapes show Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó exploring the removal of Usmanov’s sister, Gulbakhor Ismailova, from the European Union’s sanctions list. This development adds to growing concerns about Hungary’s alignment with Moscow amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

On August 30, 2024, Szijjártó received a call from his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, who stated he was acting at Usmanov’s request. Lavrov asked Szijjártó to follow up on the matter of excluding Ismailova from the sanctions list. Szijjártó confirmed his willingness to assist, saying: 'Yes, absolutely. The thing is, together with the Slovaks, we are submitting a proposal to the European Union to remove her from the list.'

Budapest’s Active Role in Sanctions Relief

EU sanctions against Gulbakhor Ismailova were eventually lifted in March 2025, while her sister Saodat Narzieva had already been removed from the EU list by September 2022. These events underscore Hungary’s determined efforts to facilitate sanctions relief, reflecting Szijjártó’s pragmatic approach to advancing his country’s interests. Lavrov expressed gratitude, saying:

'Thank you very much, he will be very pleased!' — Sergey Lavrov.

Additionally, Szijjártó allegedly leaked details of closed EU negotiations to Lavrov, suggesting deeper collaboration between Hungary and Russia. The discussions touched on the 18th EU sanctions package, which the European Commission proposed on June 10, 2025, and was adopted on July 18, 2025. Meanwhile, in December 2024, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on the company 2Rivers, a move possibly linked to Hungary’s activities regarding sanctions.

This information confirms that Hungarian diplomacy is actively working in Russia’s favor, raising questions about Budapest’s neutrality amid the current geopolitical landscape. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has verified that the exchanges are authentic, noting they occurred during a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.

The released phone recordings between the Hungarian and Russian foreign ministers highlight deep ties between Budapest and the Kremlin, which could have serious implications for Hungary’s relationship with the European Union. Cooperation on lifting sanctions, especially during ongoing geopolitical instability, underscores Hungary’s ambiguous position on the international stage—a stance that may alarm its EU partners.