Moscow says it wants a pragmatic relationship with the cabinet formed after Hungary’s 12 April election, while Budapest has signalled both continuity and review on key energy questions.
Although they labelled Hungary as an “unfriendly country” right after the elections, Russia has said it is ready to develop “pragmatic” relations with Hungary’s new government, offering one of Moscow’s clearest signals yet that it wants to keep channels open with Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s administration.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia was prepared to co-operate with the cabinet formed after the 12 April election and to expand ties “on the basis of pragmatism and mutual consideration of interests” across a broad range of bilateral and international issues. She spoke on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Kremlin’s plans are unchanged
Zakharova’s remarks follow earlier comments by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who said Moscow respected the outcome of the Hungarian election and wished to maintain pragmatic relations with Budapest. According to Meduza, Peskov also recalled that, during the campaign, Magyar had indicated he was willing to hold talks with Russia.
The Hungarians made their decision and we respect it,
Peskov said in remarks reported by Russian media. He added that Russia remained interested in building good relations with Hungary and other European countries. The Kremlin spokesman struck a notably cautious tone compared with some more provocative commentary that appeared in Russian political circles after the change of government in Budapest.
Many questions remain, but Paks is the most important
Energy co-operation, particularly the Russian-backed Paks II nuclear expansion, remains the most sensitive issue in the relationship. Rosatom chief executive Alexey Likhachev has said the state nuclear company “can answer any questions” the Hungarian government may have about the project and expressed confidence that construction will continue.
Magyar has previously described the investment as overpriced and said all major contracts would be reviewed, renegotiated if necessary, and potentially amended to improve financial terms. At the same time, he has not called for an immediate withdrawal from the project.
Russian officials have pointed to the advanced stage of construction and the strategic importance of nuclear energy for Hungary. Likhachev also argued that the new prime minister is familiar with the project’s background from his earlier government-tied roles, although he did not hold a direct government post, wrote Telex.
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Balancing dialogue and diversification
Since taking office, Magyar has combined a tougher security assessment of Russia with a commitment to keep diplomatic channels open. He has described Russia as a security risk for Europe and called for greater European preparedness, while saying he would take a call from Vladimir Putin if one came and would urge an end to the war in Ukraine.
His government has also pledged to diversify Hungary’s energy supplies, arguing that broader sourcing of oil and gas would improve both security and competitiveness. That position suggests Budapest is seeking a more balanced approach: maintaining working contacts with Moscow where Hungarian interests require it, while reducing dependence on any single supplier.
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