Putin unfazed as 'pro-Russian' Orban loses Hungary elections, eyes deeper cracks in European Union?

Russia is signaling that Viktor Orban’s election defeat in Hungary is not necessarily a setback for Moscow, with senior officials arguing the result could deepen pressure and fragmentation inside the European Union. After Peter Magyar’s opposition Tisza party won and Orban conceded after 16 years in power, Putin aide Kirill Dmitriev suggested the vote would “accelerate the collapse of the EU,” while senior Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev said an “ideal storm” now awaits Europe over Ukraine funding, energy costs, and rising pressure to boost military spending.