The Kremlin said on Tuesday it is pleased that Hungarian Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar appears ready for pragmatic dialogue with Russia, adding that Moscow will base its approach on the concrete steps taken by his new government.
Russian officials said they are ready for engagement with Hungary’s incoming leadership following the electoral defeat of Viktor Orban, a long-time partner of Moscow, who lost a weekend vote to centrist rival Magyar. The Kremlin had earlier indicated it would be open to working with the new administration.
“For now, we can note with satisfaction, as far as we understand, his willingness to engage in pragmatic dialogue,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
He added that Russia would “take its cue from the specific steps” of the new Hungarian government going forward.
Russia maintains significant energy ties with Hungary, supplying oil and gas and participating in the construction of a nuclear power plant near Budapest. Under Orban, Hungary often opposed EU sanctions on Russia and blocked some financial aid measures for Ukraine.
Magyar has combined pro-EU and pro-NATO positions with an acknowledgement that Hungary will likely need to continue energy-related engagement with Russia in the near term, including discussions with President Vladimir Putin, while also considering long-term diversification of supply sources.
