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Russia Uses Eurosceptic Politicians to Break European Union and Expand Its Influence

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Amira Barkhush
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Russia Uses Eurosceptic Politicians to Break European Union and Expand Its Influence
A demonstrator holds a banner that shows Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán kissing during a protest on March 18, 2025 in Budapest, Hungary. (Source: Getty Images)

Russia has long aimed to destabilize the European Union by fostering divisions among its members through the support of eurosceptic politicians, Andrii Kovalenko, Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, stated on April 1.

“This strategy mirrors Russia’s earlier attempts to push for the ‘federalization of Ukraine,’ a concept promoted by Russian leader Vladimir Putin and his ally Viktor Medvedchuk. However, the focus now is on the EU,” Kovalenko wrote.

According to Kovalenko, Russia’s logic suggests that the EU, as a unified entity, should be dismantled. Russia would then seek to pull certain European countries back into its sphere of influence while encouraging others to form independent alliances.

“This is not a new idea for Russia. The Kremlin has been promoting this policy since 2014-2015, though plans for its implementation were set in motion even earlier, around 2009-2010,” the Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation said.

Kovalenko thinks that the outcome depends on the speed at which European politicians and elites react.

​Hungary, under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has taken several actions opposing the provision of aid to Ukraine, leading to tensions within the EU.

In March 2025, Hungary blocked a proposed €20 billion EU military aid package for Ukraine during a meeting of EU ambassadors.

At a summit in Brussels in March 2025, Hungary was the only EU member state to refuse to sign a joint statement reaffirming support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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