Hungary is assembling a bloc of “skeptics of Ukraine” in the EU. These countries are trying to attract

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, together with the governments of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, wants to create a bloc of countries skeptical towards Ukraine within the European Union, Balazs Orban, chief advisor to the Hungarian Prime Minister, told Politico on Tuesday. In his opinion, such an agreement is possible in the near future.

“I think this will happen and will be more and more visible,” Balazs Orban said when asked about the likelihood of such a coalition being formed at the European Council, which is formed by the leaders of the Community's member states.

Balazs Orban emphasized in an interview with Politico that Budapest's efforts go beyond the Council itself. An adviser to the Hungarian prime minister suggested that the ruling Fidesz in Hungary, which belongs to the Patriots for Europe faction in the European Parliament, will try to expand alliances. In this context, he mentioned not only the European Conservatives and Reformists (including Law and Justice and the Italian Brothers) and the Europe of Sovereign Nations (created by, among others, the Confederation and the Alternative for Germany – AfD), but also “some left-wing groups”. However, he did not provide their names.

Balazs Orban recalled the actions of the Visegrad Group during the 2015 migration crisis as an example of an effective coalition within the EU. “It worked very well. This way we could resist,” he emphasized and recalled that the initiator of the actions at that time, alongside the Prime Minister of Hungary, was the head of the Polish government, Mateusz Morawiecki.

The reconstruction (of the Visegrad Group) continues. We have the third largest faction in the European Parliament. We have a network of think tanks that is widespread (in Brussels) and also has a transatlantic branch. We are looking for partners and allies in every field, said Balazs Orban.

Politico emphasized that currently “there is no chance for a similar alliance because the Prime Minister of Poland, Donald Tusk, is definitely pro-Ukrainian and it is unlikely that he will conclude any (agreement) with Orban.” At the same time, the portal noted that the prime ministers of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Andrej Babisz and Robert Fico, share the views of the head of the Hungarian government on Ukraine and – like Orban – call for dialogue with Moscow, not to exert economic pressure on Russia.

According to Politico, the creation of such a bloc is neither certain nor does it have to happen quickly. “Fico (…) has not entered into a formal alliance with the Hungarian leader in specific policy areas, and Babis has not yet formed a government after his recent victory in the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic,” Politico recalled.

However, the portal admitted that even if a bloc of countries skeptical about Ukraine within the European Union is still a distant prospect, “its creation could significantly hamper EU efforts to provide financial and military support to Kiev.” (PAP)

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