EU sidelines Hungary amid fears of leaks to Russia, reshapes negotiation formats

The European Union is increasingly restricting Hungary’s access to sensitive information due to concerns that confidential details may be passed to Russia. According to Western media reports, these fears have been circulating among European officials for some time.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that such developments are hardly surprising, suggesting that there have long been suspicions about potential information sharing between Viktor Orbán’s circle and Moscow.

 Talks move to smaller groups

In response, the EU is more frequently holding discussions in limited formats that exclude all 27 member states. Informal groupings such as E3, Weimar, and NB8 are now being used to address sensitive issues without full participation.

Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis confirmed that diplomats had already been warned in 2024 about possible leaks. He noted that meaningful negotiations were often moved outside official meetings to avoid Hungarian involvement.

Budapest rejects allegations

Hungarian officials have strongly denied the accusations. Minister for EU Affairs János Bóka dismissed them as “fake news,” while Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó described the claims as “absurd conspiracy theories” promoted by the media.

Rising tensions over Ukraine

Tensions have further escalated due to Hungary’s stance on Ukraine. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has faced criticism after blocking a decision on €90 billion in loan assistance for Kyiv during a European Council meeting.

As a result, trust in Hungary within the EU continues to erode, raising the prospect of deeper political isolation in both security matters and key strategic decisions.