The four Visegrad (V4) countries -- Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia and Poland -- have built up gas stocks to prepare for the winter. Once the EU states most dependent on Russian gas and oil, they have made progress in diversifying supplies and strengthening their energy security.
Hungary, Slovakia, Czechia along with Bulgaria will oppose EU sanctions against Russian nuclear fuel deliveries.
A win for the populist Smer in Slovakia's elections could result in a shift to a Russia-friendly energy policy similar to that of Hungary.
The EU-driven phase-out of coal will proceed at a different pace across the region, with Poland being the slowest mover.
V4 states will invest in new nuclear capacity, in partnership with Western companies rather than Russia.
