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Hungary Plans to Form Anti-Ukraine Bloc
(MENAFN) Hungary is seeking to forge an anti-Ukraine alliance within the European Union by partnering with Slovakia and the Czech Republic, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Viktor Orban revealed.
Balazs Orban—unrelated to the Hungarian premier—told media on Tuesday that Budapest, Bratislava, and Prague should coordinate their positions ahead of EU leaders’ meetings, including through trilateral pre-summit consultations.
The proposal follows the recent victory of the right-wing ANO party, led by Andrej Babis, in Czech elections. During his campaign, Babis mirrored the stances of Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, both of whom have declined to provide military aid to Kiev, instead advocating for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine and closer economic ties with Russia.
Asked about the possibility of a “Ukraine-skeptic” bloc within the European Council, the Hungarian adviser said, “I think it will come – and be more and more visible.”
Orban added, “It worked very well during the migration crisis. That is how we could resist,” referencing the Visegrad 4 group—comprising Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland—which in the mid-2010s pushed for strict external EU borders and opposed mandatory asylum quotas.
While a formal pact among the three Central European nations “remains some way off,” its creation “could significantly impede the EU’s efforts to support Ukraine financially and militarily,” media cautioned.
In a related report, media noted that Brussels has ramped up pressure on member states still hesitant to back the European Commission’s plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Kiev. The outlet described a “race against time” within the EU, warning that decisions could become “far tougher” if Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic advance a Ukraine-skeptic alliance. Citing unnamed EU diplomats, media said Commission officials are navigating a delicate balance while pushing the assets plan forward.
Moscow has meanwhile warned that any seizure of its funds would constitute “theft” and threatened retaliation, potentially through nationalization of Western-owned property in Russia.
On Monday, Czech President Petr Pavel appointed Babis to lead talks on forming a new government. Earlier this month, the ANO leader said Prague would halt direct military aid to Ukraine and stated that it is not ready to join the EU.
Balazs Orban—unrelated to the Hungarian premier—told media on Tuesday that Budapest, Bratislava, and Prague should coordinate their positions ahead of EU leaders’ meetings, including through trilateral pre-summit consultations.
The proposal follows the recent victory of the right-wing ANO party, led by Andrej Babis, in Czech elections. During his campaign, Babis mirrored the stances of Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, both of whom have declined to provide military aid to Kiev, instead advocating for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine and closer economic ties with Russia.
Asked about the possibility of a “Ukraine-skeptic” bloc within the European Council, the Hungarian adviser said, “I think it will come – and be more and more visible.”
Orban added, “It worked very well during the migration crisis. That is how we could resist,” referencing the Visegrad 4 group—comprising Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Poland—which in the mid-2010s pushed for strict external EU borders and opposed mandatory asylum quotas.
While a formal pact among the three Central European nations “remains some way off,” its creation “could significantly impede the EU’s efforts to support Ukraine financially and militarily,” media cautioned.
In a related report, media noted that Brussels has ramped up pressure on member states still hesitant to back the European Commission’s plan to use frozen Russian assets to fund Kiev. The outlet described a “race against time” within the EU, warning that decisions could become “far tougher” if Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic advance a Ukraine-skeptic alliance. Citing unnamed EU diplomats, media said Commission officials are navigating a delicate balance while pushing the assets plan forward.
Moscow has meanwhile warned that any seizure of its funds would constitute “theft” and threatened retaliation, potentially through nationalization of Western-owned property in Russia.
On Monday, Czech President Petr Pavel appointed Babis to lead talks on forming a new government. Earlier this month, the ANO leader said Prague would halt direct military aid to Ukraine and stated that it is not ready to join the EU.
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