Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and outgoing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in conversation at a European Union leaders’ summit, Brussels, Belgium, June 27, 2024 (Olivier Hoslet/Reuters)

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Defeating the Hard Right: The Lessons of Hungary

EA on Talk TV: New Era in Hungary — Orbán Out, Magyar In, and Ukraine and Europe Boosted

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In a 29-minute deep dive, I chat with Ukrainian journalist Daniel Tkiie about the consequences of the defeat of hard-right authoritarian and Kremlin ally Viktor Orbán in Hungary’s elections; Ukraine’s successful resistance of Russia’s invasion, converting defense into a global position of strength; and the US-Israel Wars on Iran and Lebanon.

I begin with the significance for Ukraine of the victory of Hungary’s Tisza Party, ending Orbán’s 16-year rule. Incoming Prime Minister Peter Magyar has already said that he will lift Orbán’s blockade on a €90 billion European Union loan to Kyiv. But will he also remove the block on the EU’s 20th set of sanctions against Russia?

We discuss the responses of both Kyiv and a concerned Kremlin.

I look at the stalled Ukraine-Russia-US talks, considering Kyiv’s tactics in playing up the chance of a quick resolution. But more immediately, I examine how Kyiv’s advances in drone technology are not only bolstering its resistance but positioning itself as a global partner in defense cooperation.

Then it’s to the effects of the fumbling US-Israel Wars. I examine how it has reinforced the Trump Administration’s withdrawal from European and Ukrainian security — but also how Europe and Ukraine are positioning themselves not to be reliant on a chaotic and far-from-trustworthy White House.