The leaders of the European Union (EU) have decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, a decision immediately hailed as a “victory” by its President Volodymyr Zelensky.
EU leaders, meeting at a summit in Brussels, decided “to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova”, announced the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. “A clear signal of hope for the citizens of these countries and for our continent,” he added.
This decision, which however seemed out of reach due to Hungary’s opposition, was immediately welcomed by Mr. Zelensky: “It is a victory for Ukraine, for all of Europe, a victory which motivates , inspire and make you stronger,” he said on X.
“History is made by those who never tire of fighting for freedom,” added the man who had urged Europeans a few hours earlier to be part of history.
This is a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens. https://t.co/zk44CeL5Ui
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 14, 2023
The decision was made without any opposition from EU leaders, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ultimately opting out of the vote.
“Orban was not in the room when the text was adopted, it was agreed with him,” explained a European diplomat who requested anonymity. “It’s a pragmatic solution […] The political signal is given,” he continued.
In a video posted on Facebook, the Hungarian nationalist leader stressed that Hungary did not want to “share responsibility” for this “insane” choice of the 26 other countries and “therefore abstained”.
“A new page in our history”
A few hours earlier, Mr. Orban had hammered home his refusal to accept that Ukraine opens negotiations with a view to joining the EU. “There is no reason to discuss anything, because the conditions have not been met,” he said at the start of the summit.
But, by withdrawing from the room at the crucial moment, he de facto refused to use his veto power.
The Hungarian nationalist leader also opposes budgetary support of 50 billion euros for Ukraine. The Ukrainian president was waiting, like millions of Ukrainians, for a signal of encouragement from the Europeans, at a time when negative signals from Washington are multiplying.
Clouds have been gathering over Ukraine for weeks. Its military counter-offensive has failed to produce a decisive breakthrough and Western aid, essential to the war effort, has been blocked.
At the very moment when the crucial summit in Brussels began, Vladimir Putin, by contrast, displayed his confidence in a Russian victory. “Almost along the entire length of the contact line, our armed forces are improving their positions,” said the Russian president.
“If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real risk that his aggression will not stop there,” warned the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, in unison with several European leaders.
“The continuation and increase” of aid to Ukraine is an “existential question” for the EU, underlined the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
Hungary is demanding that the EU release all funds due to it but which have been frozen due to breaches of the rule of law.
She obtained the release of ten billion euros on Wednesday, after a decision by the European Commission which provoked the anger of MEPs. Several of them denounced the weakness of Brussels in the face of the “blackmail” of the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu also welcomed the decision of the 27.
“It’s a victory for all of us […], a new page in our history. Two years ago, no one would have imagined such a scenario, she reacted on Facebook, while this former Soviet Republic has resolutely turned towards the EU since its election at the end of 2020.
The EU also decided to grant candidate country status to Georgia and to open, under conditions, accession negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Georgian President, Salomé Zourabichvili, immediately welcomed a “huge step”.