The optics are startling. Russia bombed a children’s hospital in Kyiv while Hungary’s Viktor Orban, who currently holds the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency, wrapped up a peace tour that included stops in Moscow and Baku before Beijing. At no point during his Kremlin visit did Orban denounce Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine nor display the EU flag.

Following France's legislative elections, Orban announced that his Fidesz party is joining forces with Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) in the next European parliament. Their new voting bloc called Patriots for Europe is to be chaired by Le Pen’s lead candidate during the French elections – 28-year old Jordan Bardella. Will the RN stick to its newfound support for Ukraine? Will the duo supplant Italy’s Giorgia Meloni as the leader of the nationalist right in Europe?

After recent European elections, it is the start of a new term in Brussels. The last five years saw a pooling of resources in the fight against Covid, the first-ever mutualisation of debt among the 27 state members, the Green Deal, the emergence a common European defence strategy. As Orban and others travel to the NATO summit in Washington, what is in store for Europe the next five years?

Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Rebecca Gnignati and Juliette Brown.