PoliticsJuly 15, 2026 12:44 am • 2 min readHungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi is seen during the plenary session of the parliament in Budapest, Hungary, on May 12, 2026. (Balint Szentgallay/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Budapest is "closing the door" on Russia and more closely aligning with its allies, Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said July 14, according to Telex."We are closing the door in the face of the Russians," he said, adding that "it is necessary to see the interests and values ​​of the nation and allies."Hungary's government, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, has taken a more pro-European position than its predecessors. Former leader Viktor Orban was widely regarded as one of the most Russia-friendly leaders in Europe.Now that Hungary has moved away from Moscow, Russia's secret service has "tried to come in through the back door," Ruszin-Szendi said.Trust in Hungary's alliances must also be rebuilt, as the country's interests coincide with those of its partners, he said at a conference.Budapest is focused on Russia's war against Ukraine and the U.S.-Iran war, Ruszin-Szendi added.Hungary's new leadership has taken a more constructive approach towards Ukraine and Europe while remaining cautious.On June 19, authorities overturned a nine-month-long ban on Ukrainian media imposed by the former administration, as the country seeks to mend ties with Ukraine, Hungarian Social Relations and Culture Minister Zoltan Tarr announced.Meanwhile, at a meeting of EU leaders on June 18, Magyar insisted the bloc reduce the urgency of advancing Ukraine's EU accession process.