Hungary Stalls Parliament, Session to Vote on Sweden , Becoming a NATO Member.br Al Jazeera reports that lawmakers from Hungary br have boycotted an emergency parliamentary br session to vote on Sweden joining NATO.br Al Jazeera reports that lawmakers from Hungary br have boycotted an emergency parliamentary br session to vote on Sweden joining NATO.br The February 5 session, which was an attempt br to place a vote on Sweden's bid on the National br Assembly's schedule, was ultimately scuttled.br The February 5 session, which was an attempt br to place a vote on Sweden's bid on the National br Assembly's schedule, was ultimately scuttled.br In January, Turkey's parliament voted to approve br Sweden joining the alliance, making Hungary br the last NATO country to grant approval.br Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has br maintained close ties with Moscow, despite stating br their support for the Swedish bid to join the alliance.br Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has br maintained close ties with Moscow, despite stating br their support for the Swedish bid to join the alliance.br Last month, Prime Minister Viktor Orban told NATO Secretary General br Jens Stoltenberg that he would push his party to ratify Sweden's bid, "at the first possible opportunity.".br US Ambassador David Pressman br expressed the United States' hopes br that Hungary acts "expeditiously.”.br Sweden’s NATO accession is an issue br that directly affects the United States’s br national security and affects the br security of our alliance as a whole, David Pressman, United States Ambassador, via Al Jazeera.br Al Jazeera reports that, in a separate statement, U.S. Senator br Ben Cardin suggested sanctioning Hungary for its delays, br calling Orban “the least reliable member of NATO.”.br Al Jazeera reports that, in a separate statement, U.S. Senator br Ben Cardin suggested sanctioning Hungary for its delays, br calling Orban “the least reliable member of NATO.”.br According to Hungarian officials, a vote will not be held br until Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson agrees to br visit Budapest for negotiations regarding the matter.br According to Hungarian officials, a vote will not be held br until Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson agrees to br visit Budapest for negotiations regarding the matter.br In response, Kristersson said that he would br agree to negotiations only after Hungary br grants Sweden approval to join NATO.