Peter Magyar, open to dialogue: "If Vladimir Putin calls, I will respond"

Peter Magyar, the future prime minister of Hungary, stated that he is willing to respond to a potential call from Vladimir Putin, emphasizing, however, that such a discussion would have one sole purpose: the immediate cessation of the war in Ukraine. Following a historic victory that ended Viktor Orbán's 16-year regime, the leader of the Tisza party has already contacted 10 European leaders and adopted a nuanced position towards Moscow: he will not initiate a call, but he will not refuse it. "If Vladimir Putin calls, I will answer the phone," he stated, specifying that he would directly ask him to stop the killing of civilians and to end the conflict.

At the same time, Moscow has conveyed that it respects Magyar's victory and wishes for "pragmatic" relations with Budapest. In contrast, Viktor Orbán relied on the support of Donald Trump, a relationship reaffirmed even through the visit of Vice President J.D. Vance during the campaign. Thus, the new leadership in Budapest seems to mark a change in tone in foreign policy, maintaining the openness of dialogue, but with an emphasis on stopping the war.