Hungary’s newly elected prime minister, Peter Magyar, has declared that his government will not supply weapons or military equipment to Ukraine. The statement followed Magyar’s meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels on Thursday.

Magyar’s center-right Tisza party secured a two-thirds parliamentary majority last month, defeating Viktor Orban’s Fidesz in the election. European officials had previously criticized Orban as pro-Kremlin and anticipated shifts away from his administration’s policies. However, Magyar maintains close political alignment with Orban.

In a post on X, Magyar stated he informed Rutte that Hungary is not supplying weapons or military equipment to Ukraine. Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban, a member of Magyar’s Tisza party, previously affirmed that Hungary “stands for peace” and rejects sending troops or weapons to Ukraine.

The Kremlin welcomed the statement, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov noting that if any side sees no need to add fuel to the fire, such a stance is “welcomed.” Russian authorities have long described the Ukraine conflict as a Western proxy war and condemned continued military aid provided by Western allies to Kyiv.

Despite campaigning for closer EU ties, Magyar has taken steps consistent with Orban’s approach. He has opposed fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU membership and excluded Hungary from the bloc’s latest Ukraine funding initiative. Earlier this month, Hungary reinstated a ban on Ukrainian agricultural imports after restrictions inadvertently lapsed—a move Brussels argues violates EU trade law.