Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar met Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on Wednesday during his first official foreign trip since taking office, in a visit both governments framed as the beginning of a new chapter in Polish–Hungarian relations following years of tensions under Viktor Orbán.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Warsaw, Tusk praised Magyar’s election victory and drew parallels between recent political developments in Hungary and Poland, arguing that both countries had demonstrated that ‘the free world had to prevail.’ Tusk said Hungary’s recent political transformation resembled Poland’s own 2023 election, when his coalition returned to power after eight years of Law and Justice (PiS) rule.
‘You are among friends here,’ Tusk told Magyar, praising the Hungarian prime minister’s ‘fighting spirit’. The Polish premier also declared that Warsaw and Budapest would once again cooperate closely within the European Union and regional formats such as the Visegrád Group (V4).
Jó látni téged, Péter. Tizenhat év után új fejezetet nyitunk a lengyel-magyar kapcsolatokban 🇵🇱❤️🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/pI4Wz8m5OV
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) May 20, 2026
Relations between Poland and Hungary deteriorated significantly during Orbán’s final years in office, largely because of disagreements over Russia and the war in Ukraine. While Budapest pursued a more cautious and pragmatic approach towards Moscow, Poland became one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters within NATO and the European Union.
Diplomatic tensions escalated further after the Orbán government granted political asylum to former Polish government officials facing criminal investigations in Poland. Budapest argued that the two PiS politicians could not expect a fair trial under the Tusk administration and therefore considered them political refugees.
Tusk said those disputes had damaged bilateral relations, although he emphasized that the tensions had been political rather than societal in nature. ‘Our interests are now fully aligned,’ he stated, adding that Poland and Hungary would once again appear in Brussels ‘holding hands’.
Magyar, who began his Polish visit in Kraków on Tuesday before travelling to Warsaw, emphasized the historical depth of Polish–Hungarian friendship, referencing shared historical figures such as King Saint Ladislaus, Queen Jadwiga, and Transylvanian prince and Polish king Stephen Báthory.
The Hungarian prime minister said it was no coincidence that Poland had been chosen for his first foreign trip. According to Magyar, rebuilding Central European cooperation would be one of the key priorities of his government.
Magyar also announced plans to revive and potentially expand the Visegrád Group beyond Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. He proposed closer cooperation with the Nordic countries, Austria, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, and the Western Balkans, arguing that ‘Europe’s heart today beats in Central Europe.’
He further invited Tusk, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to a V4 summit in Budapest before the end of June.
Sajtótájékoztató Donald Tuskkal, a lengyel miniszterelnökkel https://t.co/fx5LWp9Om8
— Magyar Péter (Ne féljetek) (@magyarpeterMP) May 20, 2026
Energy cooperation featured prominently during the talks. Tusk reiterated that Poland had fully eliminated its dependence on Russian oil and gas and offered assistance to Hungary in diversifying its energy supplies. Reuters reported that discussions also covered potential future access to LNG infrastructure connected to Poland’s planned Gdańsk terminal.
Ukraine was another key topic during the meeting. Magyar reiterated his support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity while also calling for an immediate ceasefire and a lasting peace agreement. He confirmed that technical talks had already begun regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Transcarpathia, which Budapest considers a key condition for supporting Ukraine’s future EU accession.
The Hungarian prime minister also announced that he is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berehove in early June.
Magyar’s visit has been widely interpreted as a symbolic break with Orbán-era foreign policy and as an attempt to reposition Hungary closer to the European mainstream.
Related articles:
At a time when public debate is increasingly polarized and superficial, Hungarian Conservative remains committed to depth, intellectual honesty, and independent conservative thought.
Producing high-quality journalism requires resources. Your contribution helps us expand our coverage, reach new audiences, and keep our content accessible.
Please consider supporting our mission.
