According to a fresh poll by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the majority of voters for Hungary’s new ruling party Tisza, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, are counting on a warming of relations with Kyiv.
64% of respondents among those who voted for Tisza in the parliamentary elections said they expect the new government to improve bilateral relations with Ukraine.
At the same time, the poll reveals a notable gap between the desire to normalise dialogue and the willingness to provide concrete assistance. Only 24% support financial aid to Ukraine, while military support is backed by just 12% of Magyar’s voters. Many Hungarians oppose sending weapons and prefer a pragmatic approach focused on protecting the rights of the Hungarian national minority in Zakarpattia.
Peter Magyar has previously stated his intention to end the practice of vetoing European decisions on Ukraine and not to block related loans to Kyiv, while emphasising the importance of upholding the rights of ethnic Hungarians. The new Prime Minister has repeatedly spoken of his aspiration for “allied relations” with all of Hungary’s neighbours, including Ukraine.
Tisza’s victory in the April 2026 elections brought an end to Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule and that of his party, Fidesz. Many across Europe and Ukraine viewed the change of power as an opportunity to reset relations, which in recent years had been heavily strained by disputes over language legislation, minority rights, and Budapest’s stance on the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Experts note that while Magyar and his supporters advocate for a more constructive tone in dialogue with Kyiv, a fundamental shift in support for Ukraine should not be expected. Hungarian society as a whole remains one of the most sceptical in the EU on the question of military assistance to Kyiv.