Hungary's parliament is expected to approve Sweden's bid for NATO membership on Monday, removing the last hurdle for Stockholm to join the military alliance.

Sweden broke with its long-standing neutrality following the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and applied to become a NATO member along with Finland in May 2022.

The membership requires the approval of all NATO members. Finland formally joined the alliance in April last year. But Sweden has been facing difficulties as Turkey and Hungary didn't approve it.

Hungary has been the last holdout on Sweden's accession to the alliance, after Turkey dropped its opposition and ratified the bid in January.

On Friday, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in the capital Budapest. Orban hinted at the prospect of the parliament's approval of Sweden's membership, saying the two countries have rebuilt trust between them.

Sweden's participation in NATO will expand the alliance's membership to 32 countries. It will also enable the bloc to surround the Baltic Sea, which is strategically important to counter Russia, with its member nations, including Finland.