Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed Péter Magyar’s decisive victory in Hungary, framing it as a major political shift and an opportunity for better relations between Kyiv and Budapest.
Zelenskyy said he hoped for “pragmatic” and “friendly” ties with the new Hungarian government, contrasting that with what he described as the hostility of the previous pro-Russian regime under Viktor Orbán. He presented the result as more than a routine change in power, calling it “the victory of light over darkness” in Hungary.
The outcome was also praised in Berlin, where German chancellor Friedrich Merz addressed the result at a press conference alongside Zelenskyy. Merz said Magyar’s win would have “implications for our support for Ukraine,” suggesting that the change in Hungary could affect broader European backing for Kyiv.
Merz said that turnout was notably high, adding: “More Hungarians than ever before cast their votes. By an overwhelming majority, they voted not only to oust a government, but to oust an entire system.”
He also underlined the urgency of military assistance for Ukraine. “Volodymyr Zelenskyy and I also discussed this. The funds for military support must now be disbursed quickly. Ukraine needs them urgently,” he said.
The comments reflect the significance of Magyar’s victory beyond Hungary’s borders. His rise comes after years in which Orbán’s government had been widely seen as obstructive to Ukraine and more sympathetic to Moscow than many other European Union governments. Zelenskyy’s remarks indicate that Kyiv views the change in Budapest as potentially opening the door to a more cooperative relationship.
For Ukraine, any shift in Hungary’s position could matter for diplomatic coordination, EU policy debates and military support discussions. Hungary has often stood apart from other European governments on Ukraine-related issues, making the country’s new political direction closely watched in European capitals.
Merz’s comments in Berlin also pointed to the wider European stakes of the election result. By linking Magyar’s win to support for Ukraine, he suggested that the new government could influence how quickly and decisively aid moves forward.
Zelenskyy, for his part, appeared eager to signal openness to a fresh start. His remarks made clear that he sees a stark contrast between the incoming leadership and the previous government, and that he expects the possibility of a more constructive relationship ahead.
The response from both Kyiv and Berlin underscores how Hungary’s political shift is being read not only as a domestic event, but as a development with broader implications for Europe’s response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
