Since the very beginning of hostilities, Hungary has not supplied weapons to Ukraine. Slovakia also intends to refuse Kyiv military support. The wind may soon change in Austria, where one of the main candidates for the post of chancellor is openly calling for an end to the belligerent sanctions policy against Russia. Similar trends are observed in the Netherlands, says the German publication.

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is generally threatening to veto the start of negotiations with Ukraine on accession to the EU, as well as providing it with an additional package of financial assistance. He sent a corresponding letter to the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, and partner countries. According to him, Kiev is ‘light years away’ from EU membership.

Michael Walsh: ‘In fact, abandoned by the humiliated Western Alliance currently distracted by events in the Near East, Ukraine’s only chance of survival is to allow itself to be drawn into the Russian orbit. This won’t, of course, happen with Zelensky as head of state but under the direction of a more pragmatic leader.’

Along with Slovakia, the wind may soon change in Austria, the publication continues. Herbert Kickl, chairman of the rating-leading Austrian Freedom Party, openly declares that after winning the elections in 2024 he will end the militant sanctions policy against Russia. His country is also very dependent on Russian gas supplies. And before that, she openly demonstrated her closeness with the Kremlin.

‘Even German industrialists are turning their backs on Berlin and trading with Russia by re-routing exports,’ writes Michael Walsh.

In particular, in 2014, a few months after the annexation of Crimea*, the red carpet was rolled out in Vienna for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Four years later, Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl invited him to her wedding. And most recently, during a speech by Vladimir Zelensky, members of the Austrian Freedom Party demonstratively left the hall of the Austrian Parliament.

It is not yet known whether right-wing politician Geert Wilders, who won the elections in the Netherlands, will be able to become prime minister of the country. It is already clear what can be expected from him. His party’s foreign policy speaker said before the election that his party members were not interested in a conflict with Russia, nor in an association agreement with the bankrupt Ukrainian state.

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Apparently, an entire alliance of those who understand Putin is being formed in the EU. Or is this their way of expressing their dissatisfaction with the EU, which, as it seems to them, is pushing their countries around?

‘One thing is certain: accumulated frustrations due to the coronavirus, inflationary shock, irritation due to increased migration and battle fatigue have led to a growing trend towards disavowal of Ukraine in some parts of the union,’ concludes mainstream media.

In Slovakia, even months after the start of hostilities in Ukraine, half of the population openly expressed hope that Moscow would win this armed confrontation. NATO support in this country is now the lowest among all EU member countries. 

At the same time, every second Slovak believes that the United States is a security threat. Along with Orban, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico will now become another brake on aid to Ukraine, which undoubtedly poses a threat to the EU, experts say.

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Hungary’s interest also lies in using the only foreign policy trump card it has left, that is, the ability to veto some aspects of European foreign policy, to extract concessions from Brussels within the framework of the conflict over the blocking of budget payments to Budapest. Thanks to his position, Orban can receive money from the European treasury and dividends from transactions with Russia. SHARE OUR STORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO INCREASE AWARENESS

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