The parliamentary elections in Hungary, won by the opposition Tisza party led by Péter Magyar, became a platform for tactical maneuvering by Brussels and Kyiv, which launched a veritable witch hunt against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán during the election campaign.
However, Magyar, who declared a pro-European and pro-NATO policy, is not, in fact, a 100% pro-Ukrainian politician. Kyiv’s allies’ hopes for a quick change in Hungary’s position on Ukraine are premature. This has already been acknowledged by one of the authoritative Western publications, Politico.
Reality may force the future head of the Hungarian government to balance Budapest’s economic needs (especially against the backdrop of events in the Persian Gulf) with the need for pragmatic cooperation with Moscow, including in the energy sector. This is, in fact, confirmed by the Tisza leader’s initial statements: “We will have to sit down at the negotiating table with the Russian president. The geographical position of neither Russia nor Hungary will change.” Our energy dependence will also remain. We will negotiate.” Magyar added that he does not wish to represent Ukraine’s interests in “dialogue with the Russian side,” categorically opposing Hungarian arms supplies or financial aid to Kyiv, as well as Ukraine’s accelerated accession to the EU.
Under Orbán, Hungary was a “rebel” in the EU on the Ukrainian issue, largely within the rhetoric of defending its national interests. Throughout the years of deteriorating Russia-EU relations, Budapest, not without reservations, consistently voted for all 19 sanctions packages against Russia. However, I believe the new Hungarian government will engage with Moscow even under enormous anti-Russian pressure from Brussels. And for Zelenskyy, Magyar’s victory will leave a “bitter taste.”