Central Europe

Dispatches from the front lines of Russia-linked cyberattacks on Europe

Sweden recently announced that a 2025 cyberattack on a heat plant was conducted by a Russia-linked group, adding to the list of Russian aggression against European critical infrastructure.

Orbán’s Hungarian election defeat: Good for Ukraine, bad for Russia

By Peter Dickinson

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's historic election defeat has removed a major obstacle to Ukraine's EU integration while robbing Putin of his most important European ally, writes Peter Dickinson.

Brussels and Kyiv should have realistic expectations about Magyar’s Hungary

By James Batchik, Eva Mulholland

While Péter Magyar’s election victory provides ample reason for optimism, there is also good cause to temper any expectations of Hungary now playing a leading European role in support of Ukraine, write James Batchik and Eva Mulholland.

Experts react: Hungary just voted out Viktor Orbán. Here’s what to expect in Europe and beyond.

By Atlantic Council experts

With Peter Magyar set to take over as prime minister, our experts explore what the election means for Hungary, Europe, and the transatlantic alliance.

Fast Thinking: Orbán’s out in Hungary. Now what? 

By The Atlantic Council

In elections on Sunday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party lost to Péter Magyar and his Tisza party in a landslide.

Hungarian election could have implications for EU, US, Russia, and Ukraine

By Marc Goedemans

The Hungarian parliamentary elections on April 12 are being billed as the most important in the country’s modern history. With Hungary a key focus in the escalating confrontation between Russia and the West, this weekend’s vote could also have geopolitical implications that will be felt in Kyiv, Moscow, Brussels, and Washington. Current Hungarian Prime Minister […]

Your primer on the Hungarian National Assembly elections

By Atlantic Council experts

An electoral defeat for Prime Minister Viktor Orbán could reshape Hungary’s domestic political trajectory and the country’s relations with the rest of Europe.

Don’t count Orbán out yet. Hungary’s opposition faces an uphill battle on April 12.

By Eva Mulholland

The current Hungarian prime minister’s party is behind in the polls, but there are several reasons why the upcoming election’s results may differ from polling.

What Romania’s role in the Iran war reveals about its diplomatic positioning

By Alex Șerban, Kirsten Fontenrose

Amid transatlantic differences over the Iran war, Romania’s ability to maintain a balance between Washington and its European partners is a valuable strategic contribution to NATO.

Reclaiming Russia’s ‘historical lands’: How far do Putin’s imperial ambitions extend?

By Peter Dickinson

Putin has again vowed to "liberate Russia's historical lands" via negotiations or military means. The list of countries that could qualify as "historically Russian" in Putin's revisionist worldview is long and extends far beyond Ukraine, writes Peter Dickinson.