Magyar's foreign minister says that Russia will stay Hungary's partner despite the threat it poses
Anita Orbán, the nominee for Hungary's foreign minister, has said Budapest wants equal and transparent relations with Russia despite the threat that its policies pose to Hungary and Europe.
As reported by Reuters, Anita Orbán was answering questions from the parliamentary foreign affairs committee, which was considering her approval for the position.
"Russia will remain a partner but the relationship cannot be based on a one-sided dependency. In the current geopolitical situation it is clear that Russia's policies are posing a security challenge to Hungary and Europe," she said.
Orbán said her first task will be to restore trust in Hungary, which was undermined under the previous government.
"Laws need to be passed that will ensure that Hungary's judiciary is independent, that public tenders are transparent, that corruption can be fought, wealth declarations can be checked and the use of European Union funds can be tracked," she added.
Orbán also stressed that Hungary will not send troops or weapons to Ukraine.
Anita Orbán has stated that Hungary will no longer use its right to veto European Union policy as an instrument of blackmail.
On 11 May, István Kapitány, the incoming Hungarian Minister of Economy and Energy, said that Hungary will be reviewing the financing and implementation of the Paks nuclear power plant expansion project, for which the Russian state company Rosatom is the prime contractor.
Péter Magyar was sworn in as prime minister on 9 May.
Read more: Will Péter Magyar be another Orbán? Interpreting Hungary's new stance on Ukraine