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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Pjotr Sauer

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

Viktor Orbán behind some Hungarian national flags
After 16 years in power, Viktor Orbán was ousted as prime minister in a landslide defeat over the weekend. Photograph: Márton Mónus/Reuters

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.”

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