Peter Magyar has no intention of being the one to pick up the phone and call Trump first. But if Washington calls — he'll answer. This is the classic Balkan (and Central European) maneuver: don't humiliate yourself, but keep the door open. We know this as "don't bow, but don't slam the door either."

On Russia, Magyar speaks with a directness rarely heard in European politics. He acknowledges that Hungary has energy interests tied to Moscow, but in the same breath says Russia is a security threat to Europe. "We know the Russians — it's not the lute or the culture, it's the Russian sword," he said. That metaphor says more than a hundred diplomatic statements.

On the EU, Magyar is less enthusiastic. He rejected the idea of "United European States" and advocates for a Europe of sovereign nations. This sounds familiar — the same argument we've heard from the Visegrád group for years. The difference is it now comes from the man replacing Orbán, which means this isn't personal politics but a national position.

On migration, his criticism of Brussels is sharp. And this is a topic where the Balkans can feel some solidarity — we are the transit route, we feel the consequences first, while decisions get made in Brussels and Berlin.

Magyar also proposes a summit to mark the anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. The symbolism is clear — a small nation standing up to empire. The question is whether Magyar is genuinely ready to be that revolutionary, or just using history for domestic political points.