Hungary – Politico reported that Hungary is seeking to build a political alliance with Slovakia and the Czech Republic to strengthen Ukraine-skepticism within the European Union.
Balázs Orbán, political advisor to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, said the alliance aims to revive cooperation similar to that witnessed under the Visegrad Group after 2015. That year, the governments of Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic opposed EU policies on migration and integration. “This cooperation worked very well during the migration crisis, and that’s how we were able to survive,” he added. He predicted the new axis would also be evident in the Ukrainian context.
According to reports, the potential coalition is expected to include Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Andrej Babiš, leader of the Czech Republic’s Action of Discontented Citizens party. They have expressed positions close to Orbán’s, calling for broader dialogue with Moscow and a reduction in military and economic support for Ukraine. However, neither party has officially announced an alliance with Budapest.
Orbán indicated that Hungary also intends to expand its alliances in the European Parliament by focusing on groups such as the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the Europe of Sovereign States (ESN). They are leveraging Fidesz’s think tank network to strengthen their influence in Brussels.
This move comes as Viktor Orbán prepares for the 2026 Hungarian general election, amid growing domestic political competition. He faces, in particular, the growth of the opposition Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar.
