EU gives green light to accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova | Instagram VTM NEWS

LOOK. “We must continue to support Ukraine, even when things become very difficult”

The decision to open talks with Ukraine threatened to overshadow the entire summit. 26 of the 27 leaders wanted to respond to the European Commission’s recommendation, but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was reluctant. On Thursday morning he said he would make it a matter of principle.

But around 6:30 p.m., the surprising tweet from European Council President Charles Michel announced that the leaders had given their approval. So the decision was made much faster and much more smoothly than expected. “This is a clear sign of hope for their peoples and for our continent,” Michel wrote in his tweet, referring to all the countries on which the leaders have decided.

Orbán has stayed away from the vote, European sources report. He wrote on Facebook after the vote that it was “a bad decision”. Hungary “does not want to participate in this,” the prime minister said. The decision is nevertheless valid, senior EU diplomats assure. Orbán was “shortly absent” in a “pre-arranged and constructive manner,” one of them said.

This trick solves one of the most important issues of the EU summit meeting in Brussels. Concerns grew in the run-up to the summit as Hungary’s resistance appeared principled and unwavering. It is more difficult to find a compromise on opening accession negotiations than on money, people sounded worried in Brussels.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky celebrates on X that his country can start talks about joining the European Union. “This is a victory for Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote. “A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires and gives strength.”

The Ukrainian president, who is currently visiting a US army base in Germany, urged the Council via video link to let Kiev take the next step towards membership. He stated that “people in Europe will not understand” if the summit ended with “a satisfied smile from Putin.”

Now that the first success for Ukraine has been achieved, Zelensky on X thanks “everyone who worked to make this happen.” “History is written by those who never tire of fighting for freedom.”

The accession talks are not the only thing Kiev hopes to achieve during the EU summit in Brussels. Government leaders are also discussing a new support package worth 50 billion euros for Ukraine. This is also a problem for Hungary.