Ukraine condemns Hungary as ‘a disgrace’ following leaked Moscow calls

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By Grace Mitchell

Ukraine condemns Hungary: Ukraine has condemned Hungary following the release of leaked audio recordings that allegedly capture Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó discussing ways to amend EU sanctions to benefit Russia. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga described the conversations as “obsequious reporting to Russian patrons” and called for an investigation into the matter.

Ukraine condemns Hungary: what to know

Details of the Leaked Calls

The leaked recordings were part of a joint media investigation and reportedly feature Szijjártó telling Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, “I am always at your disposal.” In another instance, he appears to offer assistance with EU sanctions that have impacted Russia. Szijjártó did not deny the authenticity of the calls but claimed they were intercepted and made public by foreign secret services shortly before Hungary’s parliamentary elections.

Reactions from Ukraine and the EU

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Hungary for its close ties with Moscow, stating that Budapest’s veto over a €90 billion EU support package has delayed Ukraine’s recovery efforts. Zelenskyy emphasized that the blocked funds are crucial for Ukraine’s preparations for the upcoming winter, which have already been hindered by financial constraints.

Several EU leaders, including the prime ministers of Poland and Ireland, have also expressed strong criticism of Hungary’s actions. Critics have labeled Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as “Putin’s Trojan horse in the EU” due to his consistent support for Russia since the onset of the Ukraine conflict.

As tensions continue, Zelenskyy has indicated plans to engage with U.S. negotiators regarding a ceasefire proposal aimed at reducing energy strikes against Ukraine. This comes amid ongoing high-level discussions involving the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine, which have faced delays due to external conflicts.

The situation remains fluid as Ukraine seeks accountability for Russian actions and navigates the complexities of international relations in the context of the ongoing war.

Further reading

Editor's note

Peack News framed this cybersecurity report around what happened, who is exposed and what readers should watch next. This page also reflects material updates made after publication.

Story details

Key developments

  • Ukraine condemns Hungary: Ukraine has condemned Hungary following the release of leaked audio recordings that allegedly capture Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó discussing ways to amend EU sanctions
  • The leaked recordings were part of a joint media investigation and reportedly feature Szijjártó telling Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "I am always at your disposal." In another
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized Hungary for its close ties with Moscow, stating that Budapest's veto over a €90 billion EU support package has delayed Ukraine's recovery efforts.

Why this matters

Ukraine condemns Hungary: Ukraine has condemned Hungary following the release of leaked audio recordings that allegedly capture Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó discussing ways to amend EU sanctions to benefit Russia. Ukrainian...

Impact and next steps

Ukraine condemns Hungary: Ukraine has condemned Hungary following the release of leaked audio recordings that allegedly capture Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó discussing ways to amend EU sanctions to benefit Russia. Ukrainian... The leaked recordings were part of a joint media investigation and reportedly feature Szijjártó telling Russian

Background

The leaked recordings were part of a joint media investigation and reportedly feature Szijjártó telling Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, "I am always at your disposal." In another instance, he appears to offer assistance with EU sanctions that have impacted Russia. Szijjártó did not deny the authenticity of the calls but claimed they were intercepted and made public by foreign secret services shortly before Hungary's parliamentary elections. Ukrainian President Volodymyr

Timeline

  1. Szijjártó did not deny the authenticity of the calls but claimed they were intercepted and made public by foreign secret services shortly before Hungary's parliamentary elections.

Source

This article is based on reporting from theguardian.com.

About the author

Grace Mitchell

Grace Mitchell covers AI policy, cybersecurity, technology business and world affairs for Peack News. Her work focuses on regulation, platform power, digital risk and the political decisions that shape companies, institutions and everyday users.

Expertise focus: AI policy, cybersecurity, technology business and world politics

Areas covered: AI, Cybersecurity, Technology Business, World Politics

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editorial@peacknews.com