Senators also want to restore the visa regime for Hungarian citizens.

The White House should consider imposing sanctions against Hungary. This opinion was expressed by several senators of the US Congress, including the head of the Committee on Foreign Relations Ben Cardin, writes Bloomberg.

According to him, the current Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is the “least reliable” NATO ally, which is causing growing resentment among partners. Cardin in particular condemned Orban’s delay in distributing macro-financial assistance to Ukraine from the European Union, as well as the delay in approving Sweden’s accession to NATO.

Given this, according to Cardin, the White House should weigh the possibility of introducing sanctions and canceling the visa-free regime for Hungarian citizens.

Two other senators – Democrat Jeanne Sahin and Republican Thom Tillis – said Orban risks “irrevocably damaging” Hungary’s relations with the US and NATO if he does not facilitate Sweden’s entry into the military alliance.

Bloomberg notes that these rebukes from Washington increase European dissatisfaction with Orban, who has questioned the West’s commitment to defend Ukraine from Russian invasion and maintained ties with Moscow.

All three senators noted in a joint statement that due to Hungary’s inaction on Sweden’s admission to NATO, “both time and patience are running out.”

Hungarian foreign policy: latest news

As wrote, on February 1, the EU Council approved the allocation of 50 billion euros of macro-financial assistance to Ukraine. For a long time, this decision was blocked by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. But with threats and concessions, other EU leaders were able to convince him this time.

After Turkey gave its consent to Sweden’s accession to NATO in January, Hungary remained the only alliance country that has not yet made such a decision. Last week, Orban invited the Swedish prime minister to Budapest to tell the Hungarian leader why he should agree to Sweden joining the alliance.