Russia expects Hungary to focus on its "national interests"

“We are following the remarks made by Hungary’s new leadership on the relations between our countries, as well as with regard to Ukraine. We are assuming that in these matters as well, the Hungarian government will act in accordance with the responsibility entrusted to it by the people, and in line with the interest of the country and its national interests,” said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, according to Portfolio.hu, which quoted the Russian news agency.

The spokesperson also added that Russia will make its decisions based on specific actions and statements.

On Wednesday, Péter Magyar announced that Hungary and Ukraine had achieved a breakthrough in the implementation of the language rights and national minority rights of the Hungarian community in Transcarpathia. As the Prime Minister indicated, the agreement is likely to be formalized at a meeting next week between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

All of this clearly indicates that the negotiations, which had made little to no headway for years, have gained momentum. Part of the reason is that Viktor Orbán’s government had previously decided that, alongside its anti-Brussels rhetoric, presenting Ukraine as a threat to Hungary would be a central element of its election campaign.