The European Union's promise of 50 billion euros in aid to Ukraine over the next four years has been delayed, frustrating Ukraine's government, which is struggling to make ends meet and bolster its defenses against Russia. While EU leaders celebrated granting Ukraine the nod to start membership talks, the process could take over a decade and face obstacles from individual member states. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, opposes war funding for Ukraine and calls for a ceasefire and peace talks instead. Despite the delay in aid, EU leaders assure that Ukraine will not be left without support, and a new summit is scheduled for late January or early February.
EU leaders reached a breakthrough to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, but Hungary blocked a crucial 50-billion-euro aid package for Ukraine. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban warned he could still halt the process and stall the aid package to win budget concessions from Brussels. Despite Hungary's opposition, the EU approved negotiations with Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy hailed it as a victory, while Kyiv appealed for the 50 billion euros. The EU also granted EU candidate status to Georgia and expressed support for Bosnia-Herzegovina's bid. The Kremlin criticized the EU's decision, and Orban abstained from the vote but maintained his opposition.
Russia has criticized the European Union's decision to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, stating that it is a politicized decision that could destabilize the bloc. The Kremlin argues that neither Ukraine nor Moldova currently meet the strict criteria for EU accession and accuses the EU of wanting to demonstrate support for these countries. The comments come after EU leaders agreed to start entry talks with Ukraine, despite ongoing conflict with Russia. Hungary's opposition to a financial aid package for Ukraine also highlights divisions within the EU. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin accuses Europe of kowtowing to the US and praises Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for protecting national interests.
The Kremlin has criticized the European Union's decision to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, calling it a politicized move that could destabilize the bloc. Russia praised Hungary for objecting to the decision and expressed concerns that new members could disrupt the EU. The EU leaders agreed to open entry talks with Ukraine despite the ongoing conflict with Russia, and they also granted Georgia the status of a membership candidate. The Kremlin spokesperson suggested that these decisions were driven by a desire to annoy Russia and antagonize the EU in relation to Russia.
Hungary has blocked €50bn of EU aid for Ukraine shortly after an agreement was reached on starting membership talks. While Hungary did not veto the decision to open membership talks, it opposes Ukraine's membership and maintains close ties with Russia. The aid negotiations will resume early next year. Ukraine is heavily dependent on EU and US funding as it continues to fight against occupying Russian forces.
The European Council has announced that it will open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, granting candidate status to Georgia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the decision as a victory, while European leaders celebrated the move as a signal of hope. However, Ukraine still needs to meet the Copenhagen Criteria before moving forward with negotiations, and it could take up to a decade for Ukraine to join the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban remains a significant barrier to Ukraine's accession talks, claiming that Ukraine has not met the necessary conditions.
European Union leaders have agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine, despite opposition from Hungary. The decision was announced at a summit of the 27 EU countries, where the bloc also agreed to open formal membership negotiations with Moldova. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed it as a victory for Ukraine and Europe, while European Council President Charles Michel called it a signal of hope. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who had promised to block the deal, called the decision irrational and inappropriate. The talks are expected to take years, and Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia poses challenges for EU membership.
European leaders have unanimously agreed to open EU membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova, while granting candidate status to Georgia. The decision, hailed as a victory by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, comes after almost 22 months of Russia's war and a struggle to secure Western military and financial aid. Hungary, although opposing talks with Kyiv, did not veto the move. Talks on joining the EU can take years, and the decision does not guarantee membership for Ukraine.
European Union leaders have agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine, bringing the war-torn nation one step closer to EU membership. The surprise announcement by EU summit chair Charles Michel also included the decision to start accession negotiations with Moldova. Despite Hungary's pledge to block the decision, the agreement was reached during the EU summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed it as a victory, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the move.
The European Union has agreed to open membership talks for Ukraine, signaling support for the country's long-held goal. However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is threatening to block the decision and a critical aid package unless his demands are met. The standoff comes at a crucial time when Ukraine's progress in fighting off Russia has stalled, and US funding for the war is uncertain. EU leaders are now seeking ways to secure Hungarian support without completely surrendering to Hungarian demands. The decision on Ukraine's accession will have significant implications for the EU's balance of power and internal market.
The European Union (EU) is determined to provide financial support to Ukraine, even if Hungary vetoes it at the upcoming summit. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has threatened to block budget support and membership talks for Ukraine, which are crucial for the country as it battles Russia's invasion. The EU is exploring alternative ways to provide assistance, such as allocating a smaller amount for a shorter period or extending national contributions from other EU countries. The EU is also considering adding an additional 5 billion euros for military aid to Ukraine. Orban's opposition to Ukraine's EU membership has raised concerns, and if he blocks the talks, related proposals for Georgia and Bosnia may also be affected.
A senior EU official has expressed concerns over the launch of membership talks with Ukraine and the provision of further aid, stating that both are "at risk." The official cited the high cost of supporting Ukraine and the recent budget ruling by the German constitutional court as factors limiting the bloc's ability to provide additional financial assistance. Hungary's resistance and doubts about Ukraine's ability to meet the necessary conditions were also mentioned as potential obstacles to starting formal membership talks. The official highlighted increasing questions within the EU about the future of the war in Ukraine and the bloc's ability to continue supporting Ukraine financially and militarily.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has signaled that Hungary will veto Ukraine's membership talks with the European Union, stating that Ukraine is "in no way ready" to join the bloc. Orban's government has previously refused to supply Ukraine with weapons and threatened to veto EU financial aid packages to Kyiv. Hungary accuses Ukraine of violating the rights of its ethnic Hungarian minority and is engaged in a struggle with the EU over rule-of-law and human rights standards. EU officials are frustrated with Hungary's maneuvering and are considering working around any potential veto.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has stated that the European Union (EU) should not initiate membership talks with Ukraine, emphasizing that this is Hungary's firm position on the matter. The EU is set to decide in December on whether to invite Ukraine to begin membership talks, with Hungary potentially being the main obstacle. Orban clarified that Hungary's rejection of the talks is not linked to the ongoing dispute with Brussels over EU funds, stating that the two issues should not be connected. Orban's stance comes amidst economic challenges in Hungary and ongoing tensions between the country and the EU.
Russia dismisses the possibility of Ukraine joining the European Union, calling it "hardly real," following the EU's recommendation to open formal membership talks with Kyiv. Moscow sees this as a ploy to keep Russian and Chinese influence at bay and suggests it is merely a carrot being dangled in front of a cart. Russia has long opposed Ukraine's European ambitions, which led to the 2013-14 pro-EU revolution and subsequent conflict. The EU's decision to open talks still requires approval from its leaders and meeting strict entry criteria.
