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Hungary Will Work With Putin on Energy but “Will Not Become Friends,” Magyar Says
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Hungary’s incoming government will continue negotiations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, but strictly on a pragmatic basis focused on energy supplies, opposition leader Péter Magyar said.
In an interview with Népszava published on April 11, Magyar stated that Budapest would maintain contact with Moscow on issues related to oil and gas.
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“We will have to sit down at the negotiating table with the Russian president. The geography of neither Russia nor Hungary will change. And our energy dependence will also remain for some time,” he said.
Magyar acknowledged that Hungary needs to reduce its reliance on Russian energy but stressed that diversification cannot be achieved quickly. At the same time, he made clear there would be no political alignment with Moscow, adding, “We will not become friends.”
On April 12, Péter Magyar described the outcome of the parliamentary elections as historic, saying the country had “made history” by ending Viktor Orbán’s rule and “making Hungary free.”
Addressing supporters in Budapest after the results were announced, Magyar said his Tisza party had secured a clear and decisive mandate. According to HVG, Tisza won the elections with roughly two-thirds of the vote.
“This is not just a lot, it is very much. Such a strong mandate has not been given to a party before—you have given us the right to build a functioning country for all Hungarians,” he said.
Magyar also expressed gratitude to his family, party members, 50,000 volunteers, activists, and supporters, adding that the victory was achieved “despite the difficulties,” as “the state party used all its resources, spending hundreds of billions on campaigns of lies and hatred... but today the truth has defeated lies.”
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At the same time, Ukraine has begun efforts to engage Hungary on possible high-level political dialogue following the recent parliamentary elections that brought Magyar to power.
According to Interfax, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had already signaled to Budapest its openness to communication between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the Tisza party leader.
“We believe that we have received the right European signals from this country, which open new opportunities for us and give a chance to start a new neighborly chapter in our shared history. The people deserve such open relations,” Sybiha said.
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