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European leaders have authorized the opening of accession negotiations for Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel introduced Thursday.
The announcement comes at a essential time for Ukraine as its counteroffensive in opposition to Russia’s invasion stalled in current weeks and $60 billion in help from the U.S. is caught in Congress.
Whereas accession talks are more likely to proceed on for a few years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated the information was “a victory of Ukraine … a victory that motivates, evokes and strengthens.” This was a historic second for Ukraine, which has made its aspirations to hitch the EU recognized for a few years.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who had vehemently opposed the opening of accession talks for Ukraine, criticized the settlement reached with out him by European leaders.
“Hungary doesn’t need to be a part of this unhealthy determination!” Orbán stated in a assertion posted on Fb.
Orbán left the room when the choice on enlargement was taken, based on a nationwide official and a EU diplomat who have been each briefed on the dialogue. This allowed for an unanimous determination from the European Council, which one other EU official, who just like the others was granted anonymity to talk candidly in regards to the circumstances, stated was fully authorized below EU regulation.
“If somebody is absent, they’re absent. Legally it’s completely legitimate,” added the official.
EU leaders will nonetheless meet through the summit to debate the €50 billion help bundle to Ukraine. The summit is meant to finish on Friday however might last more if leaders can not come to an settlement by then.
European leaders have been fast to rejoice the announcement.
Michel hailed the choice as “a transparent sign of hope for his or her individuals and for our continent” in a press release on X, previously Twitter.
“Historic day! In opposition to all odds, we achieved a call to open accession negotiations with #Ukraine and #Moldova,” Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo equally stated the choice was “historic” and “an necessary message of hope for these international locations and their residents.”
Leaders additionally authorized the opening of accession negotiations for Moldova.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu welcomed the settlement, and stated her nation was “dedicated to the arduous work wanted to grow to be an EU member.”
The much-awaited determination got here surprisingly early, as Orbán had been threatening to make use of his veto to dam the opening of accession talks within the days main as much as the summit.
The European Council’s determination follows a advice from the European Fee, which had suggested to open accession negotiations in November.
Ukraine utilized to hitch the EU in February 2022 — simply days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the nation — and was granted candidate standing in June.
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