Hungary Declares Russia a Threat, Reversing Orban’s Moscow-Friendly Policy

Hungary labeled Russia a “threat to the global order” and formally condemned its military aggression on Aug. 25, in a move that marks a sharp shift in Budapest’s outlook under its new government.

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar deposed Viktor Orban from the premiership he had held since 2010 in an election in April and has taken a much less conciliatory tone toward Moscow than his predecessor.

Policy guidelines published on Aug. 25, which must be followed by Budapest’s delegation to the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly, stated that “Hungary condemns the Russian military aggression and fully supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and recognises Ukraine’s right to self-defence.”

“Russia’s conduct constitutes a threat to Hungary, to Europe and to the global order, and also places the Hungarian minority living in Transcarpathia in serious danger; therefore we support all efforts aimed at initiating negotiations toward a sustainable peace and long-term security guarantees,” the guidelines, which were signed by Magyar, said.

The move builds on the new prime minister’s policy shift he has pursued since taking office, which has moved Hungary away from the previously cozy relationship it had with the Kremlin under Orban and toward more affable terms with the rest of the European Union, which it joined in 2004.

So far, Magyar has announced a review of Orban’s 2014 Paks II nuclear power plant deal with Russia’s Rosatom, secured a deal to release 16.4 billion euros ($19.1 billion) in frozen EU funds, and rescinded Budapest’s vetoes on reimbursing EU countries for arms sent to Kyiv.

Additionally, he returned gold and cash that Budapest had seized from bank vehicles that were transporting the assets across Hungary to Ukraine.

Kyiv condemned the move as racketeering.

However, although Magyar has cooled Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, his government remains opposed to fast-tracking Ukraine to EU membership.

“Hungary continues to oppose accelerated EU accession. If Ukraine succeeds in closing all 33 accession chapters within the next 10 to 15 years, Hungary will support Ukraine’s accession, subject to a legally binding referendum,” Magyar said in a June 3 post on X.

Neither Kyiv nor Moscow has yet publicly commented on the policy document released by Hungary. The Epoch Times contacted the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Under Orban, Hungary maintained much more friendly relations with Moscow than most other nations in Europe in the wake of the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The former prime minister repeatedly scuppered EU sanctions packages against Russia during his tenure, was a vociferous opponent of Brussels’s plans to completely ban Russian energy imports, and made multiple trips to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Although Hungary has continued to import pipeline gas from Russia, those imports were down 12.5 percent in the first half of 2026, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

Magyar has said he would end Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy by 2035.