Sweden has cleared its final obstacle to joining NATO after Hungary’s parliament ratified Stockholm’s bid Monday. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson hailed the historic step.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson: “Sweden is leaving behind 200 years of neutrality and military nonalignment. … As far as Russia is concerned, the only thing we can safely expect is that they do not like Sweden becoming a NATO member. They didn’t like Finland becoming a NATO member, either. The whole purpose was to emphasize that a country like Ukraine would not be allowed to choose its own path.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán had blocked Sweden’s bid for membership for over 18 months, but finally relented following last week’s deal for Sweden to sell Hungary four fighter jets.