From Putin to Kyiv: Magyar’s Key Statements After Winning Hungary’s Election

Hungary’s Prime Minister-elect Péter Magyar held a three-hour international press conference in Budapest on April 13, outlining his government’s priorities on Ukraine, Russia, energy, and domestic reform — signalling a decisive break from Orbán’s foreign policy, while stopping short of unconditional support for Kyiv.

Ukraine and the War

Magyar was unambiguous on the fundamental question of the Russian-Ukrainian war. “Ukraine is the victim of this war. This is known to everyone. No one has the right to dictate to Ukraine the terms on which it must make peace or sign a peace agreement,” he said, as reported by Daily News Hungary. The prime minister-elect confirmed he is ready to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, including on the sidelines of a European Council meeting.

Magyar also addressed the question of Hungary’s ethnic minority in Ukraine, acknowledging it as a priority for his government. He said he would seek to resolve the language law dispute affecting Hungarian speakers in Ukraine. “This is not such a big request — that Hungarians living there can use their native language,” he said, according to Daily News Hungary. He emphasised, however, that resolving bilateral tensions with Kyiv is in Hungary’s own interests: “It is in the primary interests of Hungary to have good relations with all its neighbours.”

The €90bn Loan to Ukraine

On the EU’s €90 billion loan package for Ukraine, Magyar’s position was more nuanced than many in Brussels had hoped. He said he supports Hungary’s opt-out from the mechanism — a position originally negotiated by Orbán — citing the country’s difficult budgetary situation. “Hungary is in a very difficult financial situation, and our task is to bring back the EU funds that belong to us. We cannot take on more loans,” he said, as reported by Euronews.

Crucially, however, Magyar made clear he would not seek to reopen or block the decision already taken by the European Council in December. “The decision was already made by the European Council in December, so I don’t know why it should be revisited,” he said. Hungary, along with the Czech Republic and Slovakia, opted out of the mechanism at that summit — meaning the loan is not contingent on Budapest’s participation. Magyar pledged to raise the issue in conversations with European leaders and said his government would “try to be consistent and honest in our communication and not change our position every six months” — a pointed contrast with Orbán’s record.

Russia: Threat, but Pragmatism

Magyar was direct on Russia’s role in European security. “Russia is a security threat, and everyone knows it. I am not talking about the Russian people — they are fantastic people — but about the Russian state. In the history of Hungary, we have already felt the ‘Russian bear’ before. Europe must prepare. Europe must defend itself,” he said, according to Daily News Hungary.

On relations with Moscow, he signalled a pragmatic rather than confrontational approach. Asked about Putin, Magyar said he would take the call if the Russian leader reached out — but would not initiate contact himself. “If Vladimir Putin calls, I’ll pick up the phone,” he said, as reported by Euronews. “If we did talk, I could tell him that it would be nice to end the killing after four years and end the war. It would probably be a short phone conversation, and I don’t think he would end the war on my advice.”  Magyar also said he would like to discuss with Putin the terms of existing energy agreements, including what he described as a significantly inflated contract price for the Paks-2 nuclear plant.

Energy Policy

On energy, Magyar acknowledged Hungary’s continued dependence on Russian supplies while stopping short of an immediate break.“Russia stays here, Hungary stays here. We will do everything for diversification, but that does not mean we will disconnect. We will always get oil as cheaply and safely as possible,” he said, per Daily News Hungary. He has previously pledged to phase out Russian energy imports by 2035, though Euronews noted that his Monday remarks appeared to soften that campaign commitment.

Ukraine’s EU Accession

Magyar opposed any fast-track path for Ukraine’s EU membership, saying the country must go through the full negotiation process. “We are talking about a country that is at war. It is absolutely absurd that a country at war would be admitted to the European Union,” he said, according to Daily News Hungary. He added that if Ukraine does complete the accession process, Hungary will hold a referendum on its membership—a requirement he said he would honour.

Domestic Agenda

Magyar set out an ambitious domestic reform agenda, with unlocking frozen EU funds as his government’s top priority. He outlined a four-point plan already under discussion with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: joining the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, restoring judicial independence, ensuring press freedom, and liberating universities and academic institutions from political control. He said he hoped these steps would be sufficient to unblock approximately €17 billion in suspended EU funds “as quickly as possible,” as reported by Euronews.

Magyar also announced plans to amend Hungary’s constitution to limit prime ministers to two terms — a move that would bar Orbán from ever returning to office. He said his government would seek to rejoin the International Criminal Court, from which Orbán’s administration had withdrawn, and confirmed Hungary would join the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, a step Orbán had repeatedly blocked.

On accountability for the outgoing government, Magyar was pointed: “Szijjártó has been found — he is at the Foreign Ministry destroying documents in a shredder. But that won’t help him,” he said, according to Daily News Hungary.

Magyar said he hopes to take office as early as May 5. With a constitutional supermajority behind him and a sweeping reform agenda on the table, Hungary’s incoming prime minister takes office with the broadest parliamentary mandate in the country’s post-communist history.