Two good to be true?
1. #Turkey set to approve #Sweden's #NATO membership ➡️ https://www.reuters.com/world/turkey-set-approve-swedens-nato-membership-bid-after-long-delay-2024-01-23/
2. #Hungary to back #EU aid for #Ukraine ➡️ https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/hard-sway-hungary-back-eu-aid-ukraine-next-week-luxembourg-2024-01-23/
⬆️
What #Turkey gained in delaying #Sweden's #NATO bid?
Turkey demanded Sweden take more steps to crack down on #terrorists operating from its territory
Sweden agreed to rein in #KurdistanWorkersParty (#PKK), and the #Gulen movement that Turkey says was responsible for a 2016 #coup attempt in Turkey. [#Trump & Gulen ➡️ https://www.npr.org/2018/11/17/668898939/trumps-says-extraditing-turkish-cleric-fethullah-gulen-is-not-under-consideratio]
Sweden also introduced anti-terrorism bill outlawing membership in #terrorist orgs.
[Psst, #Canada ➡️ https://mastodon.social/@rameshgupta/111705019769868427]
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/what-turkey-gained-delaying-swedens-nato-bid-2023-11-29/
⬆️ Both turned out to be true!
All 27 #EU leaders have agreed a €50bn aid package for #Ukraine after #Hungary had previously blocked the deal.
#Putin's closest ally in EU, Viktor #Orban wanted to force a rethink of EU policy towards Ukraine & had questioned the idea of committing to fund Kyiv for next four years.
Hungary's #FarRight #OurHomeland party had said it would "lay claim to #Transcarpathia" in western Ukraine, should Ukraine lose war ➡️ https://mastodon.social/@rameshgupta/111833003657299292
⬆️ Some colorful language here on how even #Orban's allies like #Italian PM Giorgia #Meloni forced #Hungary into submission on #Ukraine.
#EU leaders teamed up ahead of summit with stark message: "You're on your own"
They told him that the other 26 members were united, and he would face consequences if he continued to block.
"The tensions were tangible...Everyone was angry at him…It reached boiling point".
Facing a united front, Orban was forced to abandon key demands
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-leaders-isolated-orban-seal-ukraine-aid-deal-2024-02-01/
Ramesh #NotGoingBack