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Hungary wants to form a coalition against Ukraine with other EU countries

by AI | 29.Oct 2025 | Europe in brief AI

After the election victory of the right-wing populist Babis in the Czech Republic, Budapest hopes for a broader alliance against the EU Commission’s Ukraine policy.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Photo: Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa

Brussels (dpa) – Hungary’s right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is seeking a “Ukraine-skeptical” alliance with the EU countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This was stated by Orbán’s political advisor Balázs Orbán to the portal “Politico”. He wants to coordinate common positions with his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico and the candidate for the position of Czech Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš, before EU summit meetings.

Although a firm political alliance between the three countries is not yet in sight, they could significantly hinder the EU’s efforts to support Ukraine financially and militarily, “Politico” further wrote.

“I believe that he (the Ukraine-skeptical bloc) will come – and it will become increasingly visible,” said Orbán’s advisor – who is not related to Hungary’s Prime Minister – according to reports. The cooperation of the Eastern EU countries has already “worked very well” during the refugee crisis of 2015, he said, referring to the Visegrad Group, which formally also includes Poland alongside the three countries. However, relations between Hungary and Poland have significantly cooled due to differing positions on the Ukraine-Russia issue.

Criticism of the EU’s Ukraine policy from Bratislava and Prague

The Slovak Prime Minister Fico has repeatedly expressed criticism towards Ukraine, calling it a “totally corrupt country,” but ultimately did not support Budapest’s demands for blockade measures against Kyiv at the EU level most of the time.

Babiš, on the other hand, who recently won the parliamentary election in the Czech Republic and is likely to become the new Prime Minister in Prague, has spoken out against funding for arms deliveries to Ukraine from the Czech state budget. He also wants to stop the Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine. However, observers expect that Babiš will moderate his campaign rhetoric after taking office as Prime Minister.

Babiš’s ANO and Orbán’s Fidesz are already working closely together in the EU Parliament in the “Patriots for Europe” faction. In contrast, Fico’s party Smer has always defined itself as a left-wing party. (October 28)