Péter Szijjártó reached out to the Russian Foreign Minister even during the Wagner mutiny
In the summer of 2023, unexpected and tense events unfolded in Russia when the mercenary army known as the Wagner Group rebelled against the Russian military leadership. In this uncertain situation, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó contacted Sergey Lavrov, Russia's Foreign Minister, by telephone to inquire about the developments.
During the rebellion, mercenaries led by Yevgeny Prigozhin set off toward Moscow, which posed a serious security risk to the entire region. The international community watched the events with concern, as an internal conflict in Russia could have had severe consequences for the global economy and neighboring countries.
According to reports, Péter Szijjártó called his Russian colleague to find out directly from him what was happening in the country. The Hungarian minister inquired about the severity of the situation and asked the Russian Foreign Minister if he was safe. This phone call once again drew attention to the close diplomatic relationship between the two countries.
In recent years, the Hungarian government has repeatedly emphasized that maintaining dialogue with Russia is of strategic importance for Hungary. While most member states of the European Union have minimized diplomatic contact with Moscow, the Hungarian leadership continues to consider the use of direct communication channels important.
The incident clearly demonstrates the unique position of Hungarian foreign policy within the European community. According to the government's position, continuous consultation helps Hungary receive first-hand information about crisis situations, thereby allowing it to protect its national interests more effectively on the international political stage.