‘We were never friends’: Kremlin plays down loss of ally following Orbán’s election defeat

Loss of closest European ally will force Kremlin to consider whether non-autocratic states can ever be reliable partners The Kremlin said on Tuesday it was pleased that Hungary’s prime minister-elect, Péter Magyar, appeared open to pragmatic dialogue, as Moscow adopts a wait-and-see approach after the election loss of its closest partner in Europe, Viktor Orbán. “For now, we can note with satisfaction, as far as we understand, his [Magyar’s] willingness to engage in pragmatic dialogue,” said the Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. “In this instance, there is mutual willingness on our part, and we will then proceed to take our cue from the specific steps taken by the new Hungarian government.” Moscow, a day earlier, did not congratulate Magyar on his election victory. Instead, Peskov made clear that Hungary no longer enjoys any special status and now falls into the category of “unfriendly countries” alongside the rest of Europe. But the scale of Orbán’s defeat has left Moscow with little choice but to acknowledge the loss of a key partner in Europe. “Hungary made its choice. We respect that choice,” Peskov said on Monday. Moscow appears to be playing down th