Magyar says he’d take Putin call, urge end to war

April 14, 2026

Summary

Hungary’s election winner said he would speak with Putin if called and urge him to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Why this matters

Hungary has been a key holdout inside the European Union and NATO on issues tied to Russia and Ukraine. A change in leadership could affect EU aid to Kyiv, regional security policy, and Hungary’s ties with allies.

Hungarian election winner Péter Magyar said Monday that if Russian President Vladimir Putin called him, he would answer and urge him to end the war in Ukraine.

“If Vladimir Putin calls, I’ll pick up the phone,” Magyar said at his first news conference since defeating Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Sunday’s election. “If we did talk, I could tell him that it would be nice to end the killing after four years and end the war.”

“It would probably be a short phone conversation and I don’t think he would end the war on my advice,” he said.

Magyar’s victory was welcomed by many across the European Union after years of friction with Orbán over his approach to Russia and his use of vetoes on key EU decisions.

Magyar told The Associated Press he would work more closely with the European Union and the 32-nation NATO alliance. During his victory speech Sunday, he said: “All Hungarians know that this is a shared victory. Our homeland made up its mind. It wants to live again. It wants to be a European country.”

After Magyar takes office in May, Hungary could lift its veto on a 90-billion-euro ($105 billion) loan for Ukraine. Orbán had agreed to the measure in December, then later reversed course. EU diplomats were set to discuss Wednesday how to speed funds to Kyiv, according to a Cypriot official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to be named. Cyprus currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, congratulating Magyar on X, said: “We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as for the sake of Europe’s peace, security, and stability.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia respected the election result and expected to remain in contact with Hungary’s new leadership.

Magyar said he received calls Sunday night from French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Orbán’s defeat also drew attention in Washington. President Donald Trump had backed Orbán’s reelection and sent Vice President JD Vance to Budapest last week to campaign for him.

Magyar has also criticized Orbán’s government for not diversifying Hungary’s energy supplies and has called for new agreements and infrastructure to bring in oil and gas from other sources.

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Magyar says he’d take Putin call, urge end to war

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Hungarian election winner Péter Magyar said Monday that if Russian President Vladimir Putin called him, he would answer and urge him to end the war in Ukraine.

“If Vladimir Putin calls, I’ll pick up the phone,” Magyar said at his first news conference since defeating Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Sunday’s election. “If we did talk, I could tell him that it would be nice to end the killing after four years and end the war.”

“It would probably be a short phone conversation and I don’t think he would end the war on my advice,” he said.

Magyar’s victory was welcomed by many across the European Union after years of friction with Orbán over his approach to Russia and his use of vetoes on key EU decisions.

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After Magyar takes office in May, Hungary could lift its veto on a 90-billion-euro ($105 billion) loan for Ukraine. Orbán had agreed to the measure in December, then later reversed course. EU diplomats were set to discuss Wednesday how to speed funds to Kyiv, according to a Cypriot official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to be named. Cyprus currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, congratulating Magyar on X, said: “We are ready for meetings and joint constructive work for the benefit of both nations, as well as for the sake of Europe’s peace, security, and stability.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia respected the election result and expected to remain in contact with Hungary’s new leadership.

Magyar said he received calls Sunday night from French President Emmanuel Macron, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Orbán’s defeat also drew attention in Washington. President Donald Trump had backed Orbán’s reelection and sent Vice President JD Vance to Budapest last week to campaign for him.

Magyar has also criticized Orbán’s government for not diversifying Hungary’s energy supplies and has called for new agreements and infrastructure to bring in oil and gas from other sources.
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