Lithuania warned as early as 2019 that Hungarian officials posed a security risk within NATO, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday (March 24), citing long‑running concerns that Budapest's diplomats could pass highly confidential information to Russia.

Tusk said such reports had been reaching Warsaw "from various places for a long time," adding that they concerned not only political contacts but also the alleged transfer of confidential details from closed‑door EU meetings to Moscow.

"As early as 2019, if I remember correctly, Lithuania for example, requested the exclusion of the Hungarian delegation from a NATO meeting, stating that there were suspicions that the Hungarian delegation would pass on information of the highest discretion to Moscow," Tusk said before a government meeting.

Lithuania's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

His comments follow Washington Post reports on Saturday citing a European security official, which said Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto had for years made regular calls during breaks at EU meetings to brief his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov with "live reports on what's been discussed."

Hungary's Foreign Minister dismissed the report on Sunday as "fake news."

The Hungarian government did not respond to a request for comment on whether Szijjarto had informed Lavrov about the content of discussions at EU meetings.

Orban has fostered warm ties with Putin despite the Ukraine war, and maintained Hungary's heavy reliance on Russian oil and gas. Last week Orban blocked the implementation of an EU loan to Ukraine agreed back in December, citing a dispute with Kyiv over a war-damaged oil pipeline.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: WARSAW, POLAND (MARCH 24, 2026) (REUTERS-Access all)

1. POLISH PRIME MINISTER DONALD TUSK ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE

2. TUSK SITTING DOWN

3. TUSK AT PRESS CONFERENCE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRIME MINISTER, DONALD TUSK, SAYING:

“As early as 2019, if I remember correctly, Lithuania for example, requested the exclusion of the Hungarian delegation from a NATO meeting, stating that there were suspicions that the Hungarian delegation would pass on information of the highest discretion to Moscow.”

5. MEDIA

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRIME MINISTER, DONALD TUSK, SAYING:

“Energy cooperation between Prime Minister Orban and Moscow is consistent and in many fields. This includes not only oil, but also nuclear energy. But what are most striking right now are Prime Minister Orban's attempts to restore normal business with Russia when it comes to energy.”

7. PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Polish) POLISH PRIME MINISTER, DONALD TUSK, SAYING:

“The Hungarian Prime Minister is assessed not only by the Polish government - but above all by the Polish government - as a politician who systematically acts against Polish interests and European interests, but specifically against Polish interests.”

9. PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

10. POLISH EMBLEM