Duda Says Hungary To Sign Joint Declaration Condemning Russia

Reuters reporting comments from Polish President Andrzej Duda stating that Hungary has agreed to sign a joint Bucharest Nine declaration "which condemns Russia strongly."

• The strongly pro-Ukraine stance of the B9, a political bloc made up of the nine NATO members who were formally part of the Warsaw Pact, has been regularly undermined by ambivalence of Hungary and, more recently, Bulgaria.
• If Hungary decides to pivot and make a public declaration against Russia it would mark a significant loss of influence for Russia in Europe.
• Duda's comments come as reporters close to EU negotiations on the next tranche of Russia sanctions continue to report that Hungary remains the sole obstacle to passing the package.
• Samuel Ramani reports: "Hungary is threatening to veto the renewal of EU sanctions on Russia The EU's compromise on nuclear energy sanctions, which appeased Hungary, is apparently not enough for Viktor Orban."
• Orban declined to attend today's meeting between B9 leaders and President Biden, sending President Katalin Novák to represent him.
• Interim Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev also declined to attend as he takes a firmer position opposed to Western security assistance to Ukraine.