2023-12-14 22:20:12
On the first day of the opening of the summit of the 27 member countries of the European Union (EU) in Brussels this Thursday (14), the news long awaited by Kiev arrived at the end of the day. The EU has decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. Progress celebrated as a victory by Ukrainians, who have faced Russian invasion since February 2022.
Published on: 14/12/2023 – 21:20
3 min
The information was announced via social media. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced on X (formerly Twitter) the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. “A clear sign of hope for your people and for our continent,” wrote the European leader.
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
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the European Union’s decision to open accession negotiations with Ukraine represented “a strong signal of support” and offered “a perspective” for this country.
“We have just decided to start accession discussions with Ukraine and also with Moldova. It is clear that these countries are part of the European family”, he also declared in a message published on his X account (formerly Twitter).
The announcement of the agreement comes as a surprise because very long discussions were expected in Brussels, due to strong opposition from Hungary. Some even mentioned the possibility of extending these negotiations until Saturday (16) or even Sunday (17).
Hungary outraged, Ukraine satisfied
Hungary’s attitude and the possible concessions made by Prime Minister Viktor Orban raised concerns. The head of the Hungarian government said at the start of the summit that he was against opening accession negotiations, arguing that Ukraine was not prepared and that Europe would be destabilized.
In the end, Orban abstained from voting. “Hungary does not want to share responsibility” for this senseless choice of the other 26 countries and therefore abstained,” he said in a video posted on Facebook.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the news with great satisfaction and relief. At X, the head of state thanked “everyone who worked to make this happen and everyone who helped”.
The #EUCO decision to open EU accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova has been adopted.
I thank everyone who worked for this to happen and everyone who helped. I congratulate every Ukrainian on this day.
I also congratulate Moldova and personally @SanduMaiamd.…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelensky (@ZelenskyyUa) December 14, 2023
He also congratulated all Ukrainians. “I also congratulate Moldova and (President) Maia Sandu personally. History is written by those who never tire of fighting for freedom”, he added.
Ukraine, which is struggling to obtain the financing promised by the United States and fears a drop in support from Western countries in the war against Russia, needed this victory. From this point of view, the announcement of the agreement is a sign of encouragement for Europeans.
At the precise moment the crucial European summit began in Brussels, Vladimir Putin demonstrated his confidence in a Russian victory. “Practically along the entire front line, our armed forces are improving their positions,” said the Russian president.
The pro-Western president of Georgia, Salomé Zourabichvili, also celebrated the “big step” taken by her country, which also obtained candidate status for membership of the European Union.
“This day marks a huge step for Georgia and our European family,” she said on social media, asserting that the “unwavering will of the Georgian people (had) been expressed.”
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