Viktor Orban

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson arrived in Budapest on Feb. 23 for talks with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban ahead of a key parliamentary vote on Stockholm's bid to join NATO.

Hungary remains the last obstacle to the Nordic country's NATO membership after Türkiye's ratification last month, but its parliament is set to vote on Sweden's bid on Feb. 26.

Hungary, the last holdout on Sweden's bid to join NATO, will vote on the issue on Monday, a senior official with the Fidesz ruling party said.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will meet Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban on Friday ahead of the key parliamentary vote.

Hungary's ruling Fidesz party has announced its intention to approve Sweden's NATO membership, marking a significant step in Stockholm's bid to join the defense alliance. The decision, reported by Reuters and the Financial Times, comes after Hungary's long-awaited endorsement, resolving a diplomatic standoff that delayed Sweden's accession to NATO.

China has extended its support to Hungary on public security matters, marking a significant development in their long-standing strategic partnership. The offer comes at a crucial juncture as NATO seeks to bolster its influence in Europe, adding a new dimension to Hungary's foreign relations beyond traditional trade and investment ties.

For political cynics, the European Union has long been an easy target. The size and scale of its ambitions and the continual overproduction of bureaucratic absurdities offer ample opportunity for derision - inside Europe and beyond.

According to the Greek government, its performance on the rule of law and freedom of the press has been judged at the ballot box. This argument is a little "Trumpish."

Hungary's ruling Fidesz party, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has indefinitely postponed the ratification of Sweden's NATO membership. This move unfolded during an emergency plenary session, specially convened at the opposition's request to address this crucial matter.

It seems that Viktor Orban has become a "vaccine" which strengthens the European Union, forcing it to act decisively whenever it appears adrift. A few weeks ago, in mid-December, the leaders of the other member-states urged the Hungarian prime minister to "go get some coffee" while they approved the start of Ukraine's and Moldova's EU accession process.

In a captivating display of diplomatic finesse, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, armed with charm, and French President Emmanuel Macron, complemented by the allure of French hospitality, successfully brokered a breakthrough deal that convinced Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to agree to the European Union providing Ukraine with a substantial 50 billion euros in aid.

European Union leaders on Thursday overcame months of opposition from Hungarian leader Viktor Orban to agree 50 billion euros ($54 billion) of aid for Ukraine, in a move they hailed as a strong message to Russia.