Orbán Pushes for New Anti-Ukraine Alliance with Czechia and Slovakia

Hungary is planning to forge a new political bloc with Czechia and Slovakia that could undermine the European Union’s support for Ukraine, Politico reported, citing senior aides to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The plan reflects Budapest’s deepening rift with Brussels and its efforts to realign Central European politics around a more nationalist, pro-sovereignty agenda.

A New Bloc to Replace the Visegrád Four

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s political director, Balázs Orbán, told Politico that Budapest wants to coordinate positions with Czech and Slovak leaders ahead of EU summits — particularly on Ukraine. The move would effectively revive parts of the old Visegrád Four (V4) alliance, which united Central European countries during the 2015 migration crisis but fractured after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Balázs Orbán said he expects this new coalition to “become increasingly visible,” adding that similar cooperation “worked very well during the migration crisis” when Hungary, Poland, Czechia, and Slovakia resisted EU migrant quotas.

From Four to Three: Poland Out, Skeptics In

The new version — dubbed by some as “Visegrád 3” — would leave out Poland, whose current prime minister, Donald Tusk, is firmly pro-Ukraine. Instead, Orbán’s likely partners are Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Czech populist leader Andrej Babiš, both of whom have echoed Hungary’s calls for dialogue with Moscow rather than further sanctions, Politico notes.

However, political realities may delay the plan. Fico has avoided formal alignment with Orbán on Ukraine policy, while Babiš, despite recent electoral gains, has yet to form a government. Meanwhile, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has warned that Babiš could act as “Orbán’s puppet” in the European Council if the alliance goes ahead, according to Politico.

Beyond Central Europe: Orbán’s Broader EU Strategy

According to Politico, Balázs Orbán said Hungary’s ambitions go beyond the regional bloc. The ruling Fidesz party — now part of the far-right Patriots for Europe group — aims to expand cooperation in the European Parliament with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and the Identity and Democracy (ID) group.

He added that even the mainstream European People’s Party (EPP) could eventually turn against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, potentially breaking the centrist majority that supports her leadership. “The rebuilding of Visegrád 4 is underway,” he said. “We have the third-largest parliamentary group in Europe, a widespread think-tank network in Brussels, and a transatlantic presence. We’re looking for allies everywhere,” Politico reported.

Think Tanks and Influence Networks in Brussels

Politico reported that Orbán’s political influence extends through the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) — a Budapest-based think tank led by Balázs Orbán and funded by pro-government sources. Since 2022, MCC has expanded its Brussels operations, promoting Hungary’s nationalist and sovereignty-focused agenda across European institutions.

Analysts told Politico that Orbán’s strategy aims to build a pan-European network of far-right and Eurosceptic forces capable of reshaping EU policy from within — with Ukraine support as the first major test.