European Union leaders reached an agreement on Thursday to commence formal membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, overcoming earlier threats of a veto from Hungary.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban reportedly agreed to be absent from the room during the consensus decision made by the other 26 leaders.
European Council President Charles Michel celebrated the decision on social media, calling it “a clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent.” A senior European official confirmed that the decision was unopposed by any member of the European Council.
However, the following day, Prime Minister Orban blocked €50 billion in EU aid for Ukraine after leaders proceeded with talks on its accession to the EU, sparking a deadlock in a Brussels summit.
Orban’s refusal to approve funding for Ukraine’s government over the next four years prompted the EU’s 26 other leaders to postpone the debate until early next year.
Despite this setback, the EU leaders hailed the opening of accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova as a historic moment. The situation on the Ukrainian battlefield remains challenging, with Russian President Putin claiming an increasing troop presence.
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of continued Western support for Ukraine to safeguard Europe against further aggression.
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