Turkey and Hungary are the remaining two countries under the NATO alliance that have yet to ratify the applications of Sweden and Finland. Germany made it clear to Hungary that there is no grey area in ratifying the bids by both countries to join the alliance.
German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said in Berlin Thursday that she made it clear to Hungary that there is no grey area in ratifying the applications of Sweden and Finland to join the NATO alliance. Both countries filed a joint application to NATO as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine back in February.
“With regard to the question about Hungary: I would like to underline this clearly…there is no grey area,” Baerbock told reporters in a joint news conference with her Swedish counterpart Tobias Billstrom.
The chief of staff of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said Wednesday that the Hungarian parliament would be discussing Sweden and Finland’s ratification during its autumn session following the passage of several EU-related bills.
Only Turkey has raised objections to Sweden and Finland’s accession, having accused Sweden of harboring groups it deems as terrorists. The three countries signed a memorandum to lift Ankara’s veto.
Following the meeting with Baerbock, Billstrom said Sweden would continue its dialogue with Turkey in order to gain its approval to join the NATO alliance.
“I think the discussions are continuing in a very positive way,” said Billstrom, adding that discussions will continue on all levels and that he will be visiting Ankara as discussions between the three countries will be continuing at the same time.
On the same day, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia was under heavy pressure from Ukraine following Moscow’s order to withdraw its troops from the partially-occupied region of Kherson.
Following his conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Stoltenberg said that NATO will be monitoring the situation in the coming days to confirm if Russians actually did pull back from the west bank of the Dnipro river.
“What is clear is that Russia is coming under heavy pressure and if they leave Kherson it would be another victory for Ukraine,” said Stoltenberg.


TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains
Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University
Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify
Federal Judge Restores Funding for Gateway Rail Tunnel Project
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 



