Hungary's New PM Signals Shift in International Relations

Fri Apr 17 2026 19:26:42 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Péter Magyar, Hungary's newly elected Prime Minister, has expressed his readiness to engage with world leaders, including Vladimir Putin, but emphasizes a strong pro-European stance aiming for an end to the Ukraine conflict.

In a pivotal press conference following his election victory, Péter Magyar stated he would take calls from Vladimir Putin to advocate for peace in Ukraine, despite not planning to initiate contact. He emphasized Hungary's commitment to Europe and highlighted the necessity for regime change in response to years of Viktor Orbán's leadership. Magyar's statements reflect a significant shift in Hungarian foreign policy as the nation seeks closer ties with European allies.

Péter Magyar has stated he has already spoken to ten European leaders a day after his landslide victory that ended Viktor Orbán's 16 years of continuous rule in Hungary.

However, he mentioned he wouldn't be calling Vladimir Putin, a close ally of Orbán, though he would pick up the phone if the Russian leader called. If Vladimir Putin calls I'll pick up the phone, he told reporters, stressing, I don't think it'll happen, but if we did talk I'd tell him to please, after four years, put an end to the killing and end this war.

Moscow has acknowledged Magyar's victory, stating it expects pragmatic relations to continue with Budapest. Magyar also indicated he would not be reaching out to US President Donald Trump, but if Trump called him, he would be glad to engage, labeling them as strong allies in NATO.

As a former insider of Orbán's Fidesz party, Magyar has started a grassroots movement aimed at eliminating corruption and cronyism in the government. The preliminary election results have awarded Magyar's party, Tisza, 136 seats, securing a two-thirds majority in parliament, which allows them to amend the constitution. With approximately 400,000 votes still to be tallied, Magyar is optimistic about increasing his party's representation.

Magyar emphasized that Hungarian voters sought a comprehensive regime change, highlighting a significant desire for transformation within the government. Hungary has chosen Europe, remarked Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, reflecting the sentiment shared by Magyar following his victory. He additionally affirmed his commitment to the eurozone and planning diplomatic visits to Poland, Austria, and Germany, indicating a shift in Hungary’s foreign relations policy away from Orbán’s pro-Russian affiliations.

This change is especially evident as Magyar expressed that every Hungarian is aware of Ukraine's victimhood in the ongoing conflict with Russia, stating that the war has led to immense humanitarian losses on both sides.