The Hungarian government has refused to receive US senators who arrived in Budapest to call for the immediate approval of Sweden's bid to join NATO. This was reported by The Washington Post.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen said she was "disappointed" that no member of the Hungarian government accepted the invitation to meet with the delegation, but she was "hopeful and optimistic" that Sweden's accession would be submitted for ratification when the Hungarian parliament reconvenes on February 26.

In addition, Senator Chris Murphy said that the refusal of Viktor Orban's government to meet was "strange and concerning" but that the responsibility for getting a vote lies with the Hungarian leader.

"We know enough about politics to know that if Prime Minister Orban wants this to happen, then the parliament will be able to move forward," he said.

Earlier this month, US Senator Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised the prospect of sanctions against Hungary for its behavior and called Orban "the least reliable member of NATO."