Visegrád Group Struggles to Find Common Ground as Russia Policy Divides Members

The Visegrád Group, a regional alliance of four Central European nations — Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland — is facing renewed internal tensions over how to approach the question of Russia, with disagreements on the war in Ukraine and broader security policy straining cooperation among its members. The group, founded in 1991 to coordinate political, economic, and cultural cooperation among former communist states in Central Europe, has historically served as a platform for shared regional interests within the European Union and NATO. However, the alliance has become increasingly fractured since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Slovakia and Hungary — both led by governments seen as more conciliatory toward Moscow — diverging sharply from Poland and the Czech Republic, which have been among Ukraine's strongest supporters. The divide reflects a broader tension within the EU and NATO between member states willing to engage diplomatically with Russia and those calling for a harder line. For the Visegrád format, which operates by consensus, this rift has made meaningful joint statements and coordinated positions increasingly difficult to achieve. The alliance's ability to function as a coherent bloc within European institutions depends on its members being able to agree on fundamental geopolitical questions — a prospect that currently appears distant.