EU opens accession negotiations with kyiv, Zelensky hails a “victory for Ukraine” and “all of Europe”

2023-12-15 10:11:29

Brussels has decided to open negotiations concerning the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union, announced the President of the European Council Charles Michel this Thursday, on the first day of a summit of the leaders of the 27. This is “a clear signal of hope for (Ukrainian) citizens and for our continent,” he declared on X (formerly Twitter).

The European Council has decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine & Moldova. #EUCO granted candidate status to Georgia. And the EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached and…

— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) December 14, 2023

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed a “victory for Ukraine” and “all of Europe”. “History is written by those who never tire of fighting for freedom,” he said on X. kyiv has officially been a candidate for EU membership since June 2022, a few months after the start of the Russian invasion.

“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, responded Moldovan President Maia Sandu.

Hungary abstains

However, the day started badly for the Ukrainian leader. While the decision to open negotiations had to be voted unanimously by the 27, Viktor Orban’s Hungary threatened to play spoilsport. The EU is “not in a position” to open accession negotiations with kyiv, the Hungarian Prime Minister said this Thursday morning. “Don’t offer Putin this first – and only – victory of the year,” Volodymyr Zelensky replied by videoconference.

Hungary ultimately did not oppose the opening of negotiations but abstained, the populist leader announced in the evening. “Hungary does not want to share responsibility” for this “insane” choice of the 26 other countries and “has therefore abstained,” declared Viktor Orban in a video published on Facebook.

The 27 also granted candidate status for membership to Georgia this Thursday. “The EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the accession criteria is achieved,” added Charles Michel.