Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov assured that Moscow is always ready for dialogue with other countries, including Hungary, where the opposition party “Tisa“, led by Peter Magyar, won the parliamentary elections.
“If Mr. Magyar, the leader of the party that won the Hungarian elections, says that he will not call Putin, we will accept this as his right as an individual to exercise his own judgment“, the Russian Foreign Minister said at a press conference after his official visit to China.
At the same time, Lavrov stressed: “We never deviate from dialogue. The president has said this many times and has repeatedly demonstrated it with concrete actions.“
“Of course, we want those who enter into a dialogue with us to truly represent the national interests of their country, the interests of their people. Then the dialogue becomes essential“, the foreign minister noted.
Lavrov also recalled the words and actions of another European leader. “We are polite people. Therefore, when someone, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, says: “I will call Putin soon”, we perceive this as his intention to call Putin. And when he doesn't call, we perceive it as a change in his opinion“, said the Russian minister.
After his victory in the parliamentary elections in Hungary on April 12, Péter Magyar stated that he was ready for a dialogue with Vladimir Putin, but under categorical conditions and with a changed position compared to Viktor Orbán's previous policy.
Magyar emphasized that he would not seek out Putin himself, but if the Russian president called him, he would pick up the phone.
He stated that in a possible conversation he would call on Putin to stop the killings and the war in Ukraine, which, in his words, “does not make sense from a Russian point of view“ due to the enormous human casualties.
The winner of the vote specified that although he was willing to negotiate if necessary, “we will not be friends“ with the Russian leader.
The new Hungarian leader plans to review and possibly terminate energy contracts with Russia, aiming for diversification, although he acknowledges Hungary's current heavy dependence on Russian gas and oil.
Magyar has recognized Ukraine as a victim of aggression, but has taken a cautious stance on its rapid EU accession, insisting on guarantees for the rights of the Hungarian minority there.