2023-12-11 15:23:32
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kouleba warned Europe on Monday. He evokes the “devastating consequences” that a lack of consensus among the 27 member countries of the European Union (EU) would have on the opening of accession negotiations for his country.
“I cannot imagine, I do not even want to consider talking about the devastating consequences that would occur if the European Council failed to take a decision, not only for Ukraine but also for the enlargement” of the EU, he said. -he said upon his arrival in Brussels (Belgium), the European capital.
“We have done our part. We expect the European Union to do its own,” he continued, three days before a crucial summit during which the leaders of the 27 must decide on the launch of accession negotiations for the ‘Ukraine. “You can’t go against the grain of history,” he continued. “Ukraine will become a member of the EU. The only question is whether someone will slow down the process, which will have a cost, or whether we will be able to move forward smoothly.”
The Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, remains inflexible in his opposition to the opening of this process, as well as to the increase in aid to Ukraine. The European Commission recommended in November the opening of EU accession negotiations with Ukraine, as with Moldova, two countries which obtained candidate status in June 2022, a few months after the triggering of the war by Russia. The EU executive also proposed allocating 50 billion euros in aid until 2027 to Ukraine, as part of a mid-term review of the EU’s long-term budget.
Hungary’s “deplorable” position, according to Finland
“I hope that the unity of the European Union will not be broken, because now is not the time to weaken our support for Ukraine,” Josep Borrell, the head of European diplomacy, told his arrival in Brussels. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on his European partners to send a “message” of unity to Vladimir Putin on support for Ukraine. For him, military support for kyiv “really requires a joint effort”.
“And if we formulate this message from Europe (…), it is also a message to the Russian president, who obviously hopes that the will of our countries to do what is necessary and to express his support fades,” a- he added during a press conference alongside Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. It would be an important message if we told him not to count on it,” he said.
“Hungary’s position turned out to be truly deplorable,” said Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonene. “It is crucial that we continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary,” she added.
“We must make strategic decisions and commit to a victory for Ukraine, if we do not do this, the price will be incredibly high,” said Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis. Asked about the position of Hungary, Russia’s closest ally in the EU, the minister, whose country was once part of the Soviet Union, judged that it is anti-European. “The only way I read the Hungarian position, and not just on Ukraine, is that it is against Europe and everything that Europe stands for. »
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