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Multiple EU leaders are demanding answers from Hungary after reports alleged that its foreign minister shared confidential European Union discussions with Russia, intensifying concerns over trust and security within the bloc.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: It’s safe to say that Hungary has a pretty rough relationship with the European Union, driven largely by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s stance on Ukraine and his continued ties with Vladimir Putin. For starters, Hungary has repeatedly delayed or blocked major EU initiatives, most notably financial aid packages for Ukraine, by leveraging the EU’s decision-making system, where key policies often require unanimous approval from all member states, effectively giving Hungary veto power. This has pissed off other EU governments, who see Hungary as an outlier unwilling to align with the bloc’s unified response to Russia’s invasion. Beyond Ukraine, Hungary has also clashed with the EU on issues like migration policy and rule-of-law standards. Orbán himself frequently criticizes the EU’s leadership and direction, portraying the bloc as overreaching, which has further deepened divisions and left Hungary increasingly isolated.

What’s going on now: Hungary is now finding itself embroiled in a scandal after reports, most notably from The Washington Post, alleged that Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó regularly contacted Russia’s Sergey Lavrov during breaks in closed-door EU meetings, passing along detailed updates on what was discussed and what might happen next. According to the report, these weren’t isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of communication that raised alarms among EU security officials, who worry sensitive internal deliberations may have been reaching Russia in real time.

The reaction across Europe has been sharp, with the European Commission calling the allegations “greatly concerning” and demanding clarification from Hungary, stressing that trust and confidentiality are essential to how the EU functions. Germany described the situation as “very serious,” warning that any breach of confidential discussions would not be tolerated, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the reports came as no surprise, suggesting long-standing suspicions about Hungary’s behavior. Behind the scenes, diplomats say some countries have already started limiting what they share when Hungary is present or shifting sensitive discussions into smaller, more trusted groups.

Hungary, for its part, has pushed back hard against the accusations. Szijjártó dismissed the claims as “fake news” and “senseless conspiracy theories,” while government officials argued that it is normal for a foreign minister to speak with counterparts from other countries. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has gone a step further, claiming there is evidence his foreign minister was wiretapped and ordering an investigation into possible surveillance.

More to come.