Given for dead, the Russian head of the Black Sea fleet is present at a meeting, according to Moscow…

2023-09-26 12:42:56

06:40 a.m.: Hungary is still slowing down Sweden’s accession to NATO

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Monday that there was “no urgency” to ratify Sweden’s membership in NATO, first demanding “respect” from the Nordic country.

“I wonder if there is something urgent that would force us to ratify Sweden’s candidacy. I do not see such circumstances,” the nationalist leader declared in Parliament, opening the autumn session. “Sweden’s security is not threatened. In no way,” he insisted.

Hungary, the only one with Turkey not to have yet ratified, has given its support in principle but has been dragging its feet for months. Budapest calls on Stockholm to stop its policy of “denigration” and its regular remarks on the Orban executive’s breaches of the rule of law.