Kyiv granted membership talks with EU

BRUSSELS — The European Union failed to agree on Thursday on a 50 billion euro ($54 billion) package in financial aid that Ukraine desperately needs to stay afloat, even as the bloc decided to open accession negotiations with the conflict-torn country.

The aid was vetoed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, delivering another tough blow to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after he failed to persuade US lawmakers this week to approve an additional $61 billion for Ukraine, mainly to buy weapons from the United States.

"Starting accession negotiations with Ukraine is a bad decision. Hungary did not participate in the decision," Orban said on social media platform X.

The start of accession talks was a momentous moment and stunning reversal for Kyiv that had struggled to find the backing for its membership aspirations and long faced obstinate opposition.

Orban decided not to veto accession talks, but then blocked the aid package.

"I can inform you that 26 leaders agreed on the (budget negotiation)," European Council President Charles Michel said. "I should be very precise. One leader, Sweden, needs to consult its parliament, which is in line with the usual procedure for this country, and one leader couldn't agree."

The decisions required unanimity among the EU's members.

Still, Michel, who was chairing the Brussels summit, called the start of accession talks "a clear signal of hope for their people and our continent".

Although the process between opening negotiations and Ukraine finally becoming a member could take many years, Zelensky welcomed the deal as "a victory for Ukraine".

It came as Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged "victory" in Ukraine, as he staged an upbeat news conference in Moscow on Thursday.

"I am sure that victory will be ours," Putin said during his first end-of-year media appearance since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.

His four-hour appearance came at one of the lowest points for Kyiv in the conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and erased entire cities across Ukraine's southeast.

The EU's financial package for Ukraine could not be endorsed after Orban vetoed both the extra money and a review of the EU budget. Michel said leaders would reconvene in January in an effort to break the deadlock.

Orban had warned before the summit that forcing a decision on the Ukraine issue could destroy EU unity.

He had also threatened to veto the start of accession talks, but he did not use his veto because the 26 other nations were arguing so strongly in favor. Under EU rules, an abstention does not prevent a decision from being adopted.

An EU official, who insisted on not being named, said Orban was "momentarily absent from the room in a pre-agreed and constructive manner" when the decision was made.

'Illogical, irrational'

Orban said he stepped aside since all of his counterparts were committed to putting Ukraine on the EU membership path, though their position did not change his mind.

"Hungary's perspective is clear: Ukraine is not ready for us to begin negotiations on its EU membership. It's a completely illogical, irrational and improper decision," he said.

Others lauded Orban's gesture. They had been preparing for the summit to spill over into an extra day into Saturday.

"Certainly quicker than any of us expected," Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.

"In fairness to Prime Minister Orban, he made his case, made it very strongly. He disagrees with this decision and he's not changing his opinion in that sense, but essentially decided not to use the veto power."

EU leaders also decided to open membership negotiations with Ukraine's neighbor Moldova.

Ukraine and Moldova submitted their applications to become member states of the EU in February and March 2022 respectively, and were granted candidate status this June.

Agencies - Xinhua