Peter Magyar’s Ukraine problem

Peter Magyar’s Ukraine problem by Martin Fornusek March 13, 2026 4:13 PM 8 min read Peter Magyar, leader of the Tisza party, holds a speech to mark the beginning of the general election campaign in Budapest, Hungary, as the campaign for the 2026 Hungarian general election kicks off. (Balint Szentgallay/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Europe Prefer on Google by Martin Fornusek As Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has effectively drawn Ukraine into his domestic fight for reelection, his main competitor has found himself in a tricky situation. Peter Magyar, a 44-year-old former insider in Orban's Fidesz party, has pledged to mend ties with European partners, ending an era of obstructionism that has often hampered assistance to Ukraine. His Tisza party has also taken aim at the Hungarian government's tilt toward Moscow and vowed to undo the growing dependence on Russian energy. When it comes to Ukraine, however, Magyar has been walking a fine line, promising constructive relations, yet criticizing President Volodymyr Zelensky's jabs directed at Orban and the country's desire for a fast-track EU accession. Become a member – go ad‑free Magyar is a "sovereignist politician," says Zsuzsanna Vegh, an expert in Central European politics at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. "He does not want to continue the sort of servile engagement (with Russia) that Orban and (Foreign Minister Peter) Szijjarto are pursuing," Vegh told the Kyiv Independent. But "sovereignism" cuts both ways. As Orban's propaganda seeks to paint Magyar as a puppet of Kyiv , the opposition leader is careful not to fuel this narrative. read also No U-turn Anybody expecting a full reversal in Hungary's Ukraine policy will likely be disappointed, experts say. While Magyar's positions are closer to the European mainstream than Orban's, he stops short of endorsing more decisive forms of support. Become a member – go ad‑free "We need to be clear-eyed about the fact that Tisza is not a pro-Ukrainian party...