Tusk: blocking Sweden from joining NATO would be a mistake

Sweden applied to join NATO nearly two years ago in a historic shift in policy prompted by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban said last week that the parliament can ratify Sweden's NATO membership when it convenes for its new spring session later this month, the only remaining parliament in the 31 member alliance to do so.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk met on Monday in Warsaw with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson.

Tusk stressed it was "unacceptable" that Hungary should block Sweden's bid and urged for it to be swiftly ratified.

"It would be an unforgivable mistake if one member state would block membership of another member state who is ready to work towards our common security," he told a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart. "Poland and I personally will be ready to give our full support in this matter."

"We don't know what the next months are going to bring on both sides of the Atlantic when it comes to outcomes of the elections, but we know that Europe and the United States - and in broader terms the whole NATO pact - have to be united, be responsible, and go forward hand in hand," Tusk underscored.

"There is no space, there is no room here for any doubts, for any disloyalty. I was able to confirm one more time, although I don't have to do it, full support of Poland for active membership of Sweden in NATO."

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that he looked forward to meeting his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban.

"We have had a few conversations this week," Kristersson told a joint news conference with his Polish counterpart during a visit to Warsaw. "I look forward to have the meeting and I look forward to Sweden's NATO accession."

"When it comes to Hungary, I look forward to going to Budapest and will certainly let you know when that date is decided. I don't know specifically what he (Viktor Orban) meant by that, but we've had a few pieces of conversation in the last weeks, and I simply think that there is a strong will to finalize this process of NATO accession," he added.

In Kristersson's view, Orban "is more suited to reply to that question himself".

The Swedish PM also conveyed condolences to Alexei Navalny's family as well as "to all those people tirelessly advocating for political change inside Russia".

"Russian authorities and president Putin personally bear full responsibility for his (Alexei Navalny's) death. Russian officials must be held accountable and responsible, and Sweden would propose that the EU consider introducing a new, separate, sanction regime for Russia in response to violations of human rights," Kristersson added.

"Let me also say that the best way to honour Navalny's legacy is by sticking to support Ukraine."

Navalny, Russia's most famous opposition leader, died on Friday (Feb. 16) after collapsing and losing consciousness at the penal colony north of the Arctic Circle where he was serving a long jail term, the Russian prison service said.