From the start of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has been the weakest link in the West’s response. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has held up Kyiv’s membership negotiations with the EU, slow-walked aid deals and cast doubt on Ukraine’s capacity to defeat Russia.
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — The European Commission chief and the prime ministers of the Netherlands and Croatia told Bosnia on Tuesday to press on with reforms and seize a chance to begin accession negotiations with the European Union before the 27-nation block holds a parliamentary vote in June. The three officials said at a news conference in Sarajevo that while Bosnia has made progress in achieving the criteria to formally start the talks, the troubled Balkan nation must do more to win a positive recommendation in March from the European Commission. “We have seen some progress, we have seen a real commitment to the accession goal with important laws adopted,” said Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president.
(Bloomberg) Iran isn’t yet restocking Houthi rebels with weapons by sea after the US and UK air strikes in Yemen last week, Western officials said, signaling cautious optimism that the military action had some success in disrupting the supply of arms to the group.Most Read from BloombergBonds Slide as Fed’s Waller Downplays Need to Rush: Markets WrapIowa Latest: Haley Unveils New Ad, Looking to New HampshireMusk Pressures Tesla’s Board for Another Massive Stock AwardApple to Allow Outside Pay
As military aid to Ukraine stalls and the country girds itself for a difficult winter at war, these comments may suggest that Western support for Ukraine is not urgently needed, the ISW warns.