Hungary Accuses Ukraine of Tapping Foreign Minister’s Phone

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Ukrainian intelligence services tapped the mobile phone of Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, calling the alleged act a direct attack on the state.

“I have instructed the country's Ministry of Justice to investigate this case, which may be classified as a crime,” Orbán said.

He added that targeting a sitting government member crosses a red line in bilateral relations.

The accusation comes amid a sharp deterioration in ties between Budapest and Kyiv, with Hungary alleging political interference by Ukraine ahead of parliamentary elections.

Tensions have intensified over the Druzhba pipeline, a key route for Russian oil supplies. Ukraine recently claimed that the infrastructure was damaged by Russian strikes, while Hungary disputes this and accuses Kyiv of withholding flows, raising energy security concerns.

The standoff has spilled into the European Union, where Hungary has blocked a €90 billion ($103 billion) financial package for Ukraine. The veto, maintained at a March 19 meeting in Brussels, has drawn criticism from EU leaders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and European Council President António Costa have accused Budapest of undermining unity.

Frictions widened earlier in March when Hungarian authorities seized cash and gold from Ukrainian armored vehicles and detained several individuals. Ukraine condemned the action as “state terrorism.”