BUDAPEST, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Hungary's election winner Peter Magyar said on Monday that he does not support Ukraine's accelerated accession to the European Union (EU), while indicating he will not block the EU's planned financial assistance to Kyiv.
Speaking at his first international press conference after the Tisza party's victory in Sunday's elections, Magyar said it will not be feasible for the EU to admit "a country at war," stressing that all candidates must follow the full accession process. He added that any future decision on Ukraine's membership will be subject to a referendum in Hungary and is unlikely in the near term.
On the EU's proposed 90-billion-euro (105 billion U.S. dollars) loan package for Ukraine, Magyar said Hungary had already secured an opt-out under a December European Council decision, practically meaning that he will not maintain Hungary's previous blocking stance.
He said Hungary should remain outside the scheme due to its difficult economic situation and stressed that the country's priority is to secure EU funds already allocated to it, rather than take on additional debt.
Magyar also addressed energy policy and relations with Russia, signaling a pragmatic approach. He said that once the conflict in Ukraine ends, Europe may reconsider its sanctions, as "it is not in Europe's interest to procure resources at a higher cost," warning that such policies will harm competitiveness.
He added that Hungary will seek to diversify its energy sources, aiming to procure oil and gas "from as many places as possible."
The opposition party Tisza, led by Magyar, defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orban's ruling coalition by securing a majority in the parliamentary elections, paving the way for the formation of a new government. ■