Hungary's parliament on Monday approved Sweden's bid to join NATO, removing the final hurdle for the Scandinavian country to become the trans-Atlantic military alliance's 32nd member. Lavrov also commented on the prospect of military engagement with NATO after several prominent Western figures made comments regarding Ukraine and troop deployment. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remarked during a congressional hearing on Thursday that, he believed, NATO could be in "a fight with Russia" if "Ukraine falls." The Kremlin warned that if NATO sends combat troops, a direct conflict between the alliance and Russia would be inevitable. The idea of sending troops has been taboo, particularly as NATO seeks to avoid being dragged into a wider war with nuclear-armed Russia.
