EU wants Hungary’s next leader to support Ukraine. It should be so lucky.

Key Points:

• Péter Magyar, the front-runner in Hungary’s upcoming election, shares many policy positions with incumbent Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, including opposition to fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU membership and reluctance to send weapons to Kyiv.
• Despite hopes in Brussels that Magyar’s victory could ease tensions with Ukraine and improve relations, his nationalist stance and criticism of Ukrainian policies toward Hungarian minorities suggest continuity rather than change.
• Magyar’s party, Tisza, voted against a €90 billion EU loan to Ukraine and has avoided strongly supporting Kyiv, reflecting widespread anti-Ukrainian sentiment among the Hungarian public and complicating his ability to shift Hungary’s Ukraine policy.
• While Magyar seeks to unblock frozen EU funds and improve cooperation with Brussels, his record includes opposing key EU initiatives and aligning with Orbán on migration and Ukraine issues, leaving his pro-European credentials uncertain.
• The Hungarian political landscape remains deeply divided, with Orbán’s government stoking anti-Ukrainian sentiment and Magyar cautiously navigating these tensions, making his potential leadership a "black box" for both the EU and Ukraine.