Russian FM Lavrov praises Babiš, Orbán and Fico as “pragmatists”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer), Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (Fidesz) and likely future Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) as “pragmatists” who “care about their citizens,” the Russian state agency TASS reported. He made the remarks in an interview for the YouTube channel of the French-Russian Dialogue association, also published by the Russian Foreign Ministry.

“We have no illusions about those now governing the West,” Lavrov said, naming Orbán, Fico and Babiš as exceptions. “They are not pro-Russian, but simply pro-Hungarian, pro-Slovak, pro-Czech, and think of their citizens.” He went on to claim that they do not want to “call on their citizens to sacrifice their children in support of the Nazi regime in Kyiv,” echoing the Kremlin’s false justification for the war.

The outgoing Czech government has strongly backed Ukraine, while the server Politico recently noted that Babiš is publicly known for wanting to limit assistance to Kyiv. President Petr Pavel earlier urged Babiš to include a clear stance on the war in Ukraine—specifically identifying Russia as a threat and committing to NATO obligations—in the incoming coalition’s programme, but he rejected the request.