The appointment of its new presidential cabinet took up the whole first session, which was devoted to internal organizational issues. But the European Parliament also moved on Wednesday, July 17, in Strasbourg, to adopt a resolution “on the need for continued EU support for Ukraine,” aiming to highlight the close ties between Russia and the many far-right MEPs elected on June 9. This was done before the new term even officially began. A total of 495 MEPs supported the motion, 137 opposed it and 47 abstained.

By criticizing Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin − a trip made in “blatant violation of the EU’s treaties and common foreign policy” − the three groups that have formed the majority in the Strasbourg legislature (conservatives, social democrats and liberals) took direct aim at the Patriots for Europe group, chaired by Jordan Bardella, the president of the French Rassemblement National (RN) party. Formed around the RN and Orban’s Fidesz, it has become the third-largest group in the new assembly.

In the chamber, Bardella responded to the attacks by defending his Hungarian ally’s desire “to keep the channels of discussion open” with Russia. While denouncing “the Russian aggressor,” he reiterated the RN’s position opposing the entry of Ukraine into NATO and the EU and rejecting the delivery of weapons “that enable direct strikes on Russian territory.” This stance differs from Orban’s position opposing, as a matter of principle, the delivery of any weapons. The RN voted against the resolution, as did a large majority of the Patriots, although there were a few abstentions.

The Patriots group has, however, been eclipsed in its affinity with Moscow by a new, even more radical far-right group. With just 25 seats, the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ENS) group has united the most zealous Putin fans around the AfD (“Alternative for Germany”) party. On Wednesday, with a few abstentions, it voted overwhelmingly against the resolution supporting Ukraine.