[ad_1]
BRUSSELS: European Union leaders unexpectedly agreed on Thursday (Dec 14) to open membership talks with Ukraine, something Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for weeks had vowed to block.
Hungary said it was a bad decision, after the chairman of the summit, European Council President Charles Michel, said: “The European Council has decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine & Moldova.”
He went on to say the summit granted EU candidate status to Georgia and would also advance an EU bid by another hopeful – Bosnia – once it reaches “the necessary degree of compliance” with criteria.
“This is a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Orban said on Facebook that he had abstained and did not want to take part in what he called a bad decision.
Earlier in the day as the 27 EU leaders gathered for their last summit of the year, Orban insisted that the EU should not start membership talks with Ukraine.
[ad_2]
Source link