‘A defeat for Putin’: Ukrainians hope Magyar’s victory will mark new era with Hungary

As Orban is rejected, there is cautious optimism new leader can restore ties - but issues such as EU accession loom large

Like many Ukrainians, Oleh Kupchak was delighted when Peter Magyar won Hungary's election last weekend, ending Viktor Orban's 16-year grip on power. We were euphoric. Everyone was following the results closely. There were toasts," said Kupchak, who has visited Budapest several times. We didn't love Orban," he added.

Ukraine celebrated Orban's landslide defeat in a series of jokes and memes. Several likened him to the Star Wars character Jabba the Hut, and shared an image of Orban fleeing from a drone. Others portrayed him sitting on a bench in Russia, alongside Ukraine's pro-Kremlin former president Viktor Yanukovych, and his exiled Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.