While the EU urges Putin to be arrested as a convicted criminal in the EU Statement on the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, the prime ministers of the Union member countries Hungary and Slovakia continue to sympathize with him. Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico visited the Kremlin during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, positioning themselves as potential mediators in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Revival of the discussion about a ceasefire after Trump`s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential election encouraged them to act more boldly.
Viktor Orbán’s Self-Nomination as Peacemaker
In the spring 2024 interview to Hirado Orbán stated that Donald Trump would not contribute a penny to the Ukraine-Russia war, asserting that Hungary is a “pro-peace country”, while the rest of Europe mainly takes a “pro-war position”. Later, on his X account, Orbán called Trump’s win The biggest comeback in US political history and, according to Reuters, said that if what we expect happens and America becomes a supporter of peace, Europe will not be able to remain a supporter of war.
Earlier that summer, he first visited Kyiv and traveled to Moscow a few days after, being the head of the country holding the EU Council presidency. He described it as a “peacekeeping mission”. The EU condemned this visit, and in the Statement by High Representative it is emphasized that Prime Minister Orbán has not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow.
Orbán criticized Ukraine’s victory plan, addressing the idea of immediate negotiations again.
Robert Fico takes the Initiative
After his visit to Moscow, Hungarian Prime Minister suggested that Hungary would soon be the only country able to engage with both sides of Russian-Ukrainian war. Meanwhile, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico began to follow a similar path.
Regarding the at that time unofficial results of Trump’s victory, Fico said that this was defeat for liberal and progressive ideas (this stance probably has a positive connotation for him according to the context) and expressed his interest in his actions toward the regulation of the war in Ukraine, as TASR reported. On December 23rd, he made an unannounced visit to the Kremlin. Earlier on Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine would not transit Russian gas in 2025, so Fico presented this trip as a reaction to this decision. According to Russian propagandist media, Robert Fico also proposed Slovakia as a platform for negotiations. However, the details of the meeting remain unclear. In response, the opposition organized the mass demonstration, initiated by the civic association Peace for Ukraine. Many activists and Slovak former prime ministers joined it. Subsequently, Peace for Ukraine requested a review of Fico`s connections to Russia from the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Slovak Republic, as reported by Aktuality.sk.
Fico also threatened to cut off electricity supplies to Ukraine as well as limit assistance to Ukrainian refugees in his Facebook video adress. Earlier, on October 7 2024 prime ministers of Ukraine and Slovakia met to discuss cooperation in energy security and economy.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to threats, suggesting that this looks like Putin`s request to initiate the new provocation against Ukrainian electricity facilities which suffer from Russian attacks. According to Zelenskyy`s statement, Slovakia’s share in electricity imports to Ukraine is about 19%.
We remind Fico that, firstly, supporting criminal Russian aggression is absolutely immoral. Secondly, Fico’s short-sighted policy has already left the people of Slovakia without compensation for the loss of Russian gas transit, and can also leave the people of Slovakia without at least $200 million annually, which Ukraine pays for imported electricity. Yes, the import of electricity for salvation is dangerous, and this is significant funds. Thirdly, it will be more profitable for everyone in Europe and, in particular, for the people of Slovakia to cooperate with their neighbors and the EU to increase the supply of energy resources to Europe, in particular gas from America and from other partners, and only this can reduce the price of energy for most families, — wrote the President of Ukraine on X.
This sparked a broader public debate. In mid-January 2025, Fico, in his Facebook video address, invited Zelenskyy to meet somewhere near the Slovak-Ukrainian border to discuss the issue of Russian gas transit, since, according to the Slovak Prime Minister, its halt will cause the Slovak Republic to lose 500 million euros per year. Zelenskyy accepted the invitation to meet but instead invited Fico to Kyiv via X post. Slovak Parliamentary Vice-Speaker Tibor Gašpar told Russian media that Robert Fico refused to come.
Slovak Prime Minister, in his Facebook post, declared that he is not “a Ukrainian slave” and stressed that he could veto assistance to Ukraine in the EU, assuring that he is prepared for the protests of opposition in his country. At the end of January, in almost 30 cities of Slovakia, as well as in some cities abroad, a series of protests called Slovakia is Europe with the request for Robert Fico`s resignation took place. According to Peace for Ukraine, on Friday, January 24, around 60,000 people gathered in Bratislava, with an estimated 100,000 across the country in total. For comparison, in 2018, after the murder of journalist-investigator Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, protests in Bratislava attracted about 65,000 people, as BBC estimated, the consequences of which also included Prime Minister Fico`s resignation (he returned to power in 2023). This time, Fico refused to leave his position. He also called Zelenskyy “their enemy”, as Denník N reported, accusing Ukraine not only of halting gas transit but also of interfering in Slovak politics.
Vladimíra Marcinková, a member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic and Chair of the Committee on European Affairs, in her Facebook post, drew a historical parallel between Fico’s meeting with Putin and the collaboration between Slovakia’s WW2 leader Jozef Tiso and Adolf Hitler. In her commentary for The Ukrainian Review, she stressed that the current leadership does not represent the nation:
Unfortunately, history repeats itself. I want to say that Robert Fico is not Slovakia, there is a majority that condemns his actions, is aware of the evil that Putin is committing, and considers any establishment of relations with Russia unacceptable. I firmly believe that history will remember Slovakia as a country that was on the right side and defended democratic values. Robert Fico’s actions are unacceptable and he will go down in history as a leader who shook hands with one of the worst war criminals of our time.
Notably, during a 2024 commemoration event of the Holocaust Fico mentioned “the Nazis presence in Ukraine”.
Common Economy and Common Ideas
In the Summer of 2024, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán formed in the European parliament a new alliance “Patriots for Europe” alongside Herbert Kickl, the leader of Austria’s far-right Freedom party, and Andrej Babiš, the former prime minister of Czechia, who represents the main oppositional party in his country. This bloc stands against the current EU policies and advocates for the strengthening of economic relations with Russia and China.
Beyond pragmatic considerations, the willingness to take pro-Russian courses also is determined by ideology. For example, Orbán implemented an ‘anti-LGBT propaganda’ law, similar to the Russian one. “The EU rejects Christian heritage, carries out a replacement of its population via migration … and conducts an LGBTQ offensive,” — he said in 2023, as Reuters reported.
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine Viktor Orbán, in his speech at the 31st Bálványos Summer Free University and Student Camp in Romania, mentioned gender and migration issues and added opinion about the Russian-Ukrainian, claiming that Hungarians see this war as a war between two Slavic peoples, and as one which we want to stay out of. But the Poles see it as a war in which they are also involved. He also dismissed warnings about Russia’s future military ambitions as “Ukrainian propaganda.”
The Mayor of Budapest, Gergely Karácsony, shared with The Ukrainian Review his views on Orban’s intentions:
The Prime Minister and the Hungarian Government identify the interests of our country with the interests of their oligarchs. Irrespective of its profoundly immoral and anti-democratic approach, maintaining dangerously strong ties with Russian business circles means profitable income for the Prime Minister’s confidantes.
Personally, I believe that the governing parties’ policy on Ukraine has little to do with striving for “peace” or protecting the rights of the Hungarian minority living in Zakarpattia. It is rather to provide political favours and receive financial benefits at the cost of Hungarian and European security and stability.
He outlined that the Hungarian government on a national level has not tried to adapt energy sources:
I find it regrettable that while most of our regional allies with similar energy exposures have made great strides towards diversification in recent years, the Hungarian government has not taken a single step towards reducing our energy dependence on Russia.
From our local standpoint, diversifying Budapest’s energy supply has always been our main goal from the very beginning of my mayorship, with special emphasis on the use of renewable and green energy sources. Mainly based on funds from the European Union, we established a new Climate Agency responsible for reducing energy waste and making the housing sector of Budapest more energy efficient (36% of the city’s total CO2 emission is produced by residential buildings). Moreover, we joined the EU Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities aiming to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
In April 2024, the Hungarian opposition organized a demonstration against the current government, led by Péter Magyar (a Hungarian politician, European Parliament member, and lawyer). Later, In October, people went to the streets demanding the freedom of media.
Robert Fico follows similar approaches. Therefore, in August 2024 citizens protested against Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, with restrictions on LGBTQ rights among the allegations.
Vladimíra Marcinková commented on Fico’s political strategy:
Robert Fico is a populist politician. I cannot say what he is aiming for with his steps, but the consequences of his actions could be fatal. Vladimir Putin is using Robert Fico to break the unity of the European Union. At the same time, we have no records of the results of the meeting between Fico and Putin. Prime Minister Robert Fico did not inform us about them at the meeting of the extraordinary committee for European affairs.
Slovakia was the first country to provide Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets. Because of this, The current Slovak Defense Ministry filed a criminal complaint against its predecessor due to aid to Ukraine. Former Minister of Defence of the Slovak Republic Jaroslav Naď commented on accusations:
This is not happening anywhere else in the world, and even my former ministerial colleagues around the globe shake their heads in disbelief. As a minister, I informed the public about potential Russian influences in the parliamentary elections, in which the party of the current Prime Minister won.
Robert Fico has turned the compass of Slovakia’s foreign policy eastward. During our government, we were respected abroad and were not afraid to say that it is Putin who is committing war crimes. As a country neighboring Ukraine, we were among the first to start providing humanitarian and military assistance. I stand by that — it was the right thing to do and in accordance with international law. Robert Fico is paying off a debt for assistance during the elections, and ordinary Slovaks will bear the cost. Moreover, our relationships within the EU and NATO will suffer. Partners and allies cannot trust us as a country under the current leadership. Slovakia is being excluded from important negotiations, and we are gradually moving toward international isolation.
He adds that Russian assistance may have affected the election results:
Robert Fico’s party needed to win the parliamentary elections in Slovakia. It is highly likely that various contacts from Russia helped secure this outcome at different levels. Robert Fico needed to become Prime Minister in order to change criminal laws and dismantle investigative institutions so that they would, in his words, “leave him in peace.” The current policy, which leans toward the murderer from Russia, is a repayment of that debt. Robert Fico is not ashamed to sacrifice his own country and its citizens in the process.
The Slovak Ministry of Economy accused Ukraine of making “irrational” decisions but on their official page confirmed that there is no shortage of gas in 2025.
The Consequences in International Relations
Approaches that oppose major EU values and policies continue to cause tension.
After Orbán visited Moscow several European leaders wrote their outrage on X, collected in the digest Orbán unites Europe — against him by Politico.
How cheap is your love?, — wrote on X President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda after Fico`s visit to the Kremlin.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Teofil Bartoszewski has wondered why is Hungary still in the EU and emphasized that if you are not satisfied with the alliance, there is an opportunity to leave, as the Polish Press Agency reported.
Tibor Gašpar, Slovak Vice-Skipper, who visited Moscow “to develop the dialog”, which started after Fico’s visit, even suggested that Slovakia should consider leaving the EU. However, Slovak President Peter Pellegrini reacted to this with denial, stated in Aktuality.sk.
Vladimíra Marcinková evaluates the harm of Fico`s visit to Moscow in terms of international relations:
It may significantly weaken Slovakia’s relations with our partners, including Ukraine, which raises great concerns and worries in me. We have been noticing the cooling of Slovakia’s relations with our partners as a result of the steps taken by the current government for a year now. The meeting between Fico and Putin will accelerate this process even further.
Jaroslav Nad` outlined that the disregard for values is unacceptable for Slovak society:
Robert Fico has gone too far. He endangers our security, and we are on the threshold of waving goodbye to democracy. This is literally playing with fire. If anyone today thinks that bowing to a mass murderer is acceptable, they are gravely mistaken and geopolitically lost. I refuse to let Slovakia become an accomplice to the pain and evil in Ukraine because, just as Hitler had his allies, Putin needs them for his bloody war. As a society, we cannot allow Slovakia to become one of them.
Hungary became the first country from which The European Commission has stripped €1.04 billion in aid in 2025 due to corruption and undermining of democratic principles.
Gergely Karácsony expresses the support to Ukraine:
One thing is certain from my point of view: it is against our basic values and our interest as an EU member state to strengthen the ties with the current Russian regime in any way. The Hungarian Government constantly threatens the EU’s unity to stand up effectively against Russia’s aggression. Ukraine’s fight and struggle to protect its territorial integrity should be supported and not hindered.
From the early days of the war, as a city of solidarity, Budapest stood firmly by the side of Ukraine by providing shelter and social services to refugees and helping our partners in Ukraine with donations.
The actions of prime ministers in Hungary and Slovakia periodically face resistance from citizens in the form of protests. In reality, concerns about a potential halt in Russian gas supplies are exaggerated and outdated, given recent trends in energy diversification. Despite ongoing debates between state’ leaders, Ukraine continues dialogue with pro-Ukrainian and pro-European representatives in both countries. The consequences of pro-Russian sympathies in international relations are evident not only in public discourse but also in economic indicators. Moreover, populist narratives undermine democratic values and restrict freedom of expression, posing broader challenges to European stability.
By Daria Maslienkova
