European Union leaders failed overnight Thursday to Friday to persuade Hungary to lift its veto on the new economic aid package to Ukraineworth 50 billion euros, after yesterday they approved the start of accession negotiations with the warring country.
“Recap of the night shift: veto on additional funds to Ukraine, veto on the revision of the multiannual financial framework,” summed up via X (the former Twitter) the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban.
The remaining 26 member states were unable to overcome the nationalist Hungarian leader’s opposition, as the decision requires unanimity.
“We will return to the issue at the beginning of January,” European Council President Charles Michel announced overnight.
“The 26 countries gave us the green light. Viktor Orbán, Hungary, could not agree for now. But I am quite sure that we can close the agreement at the beginning of next year, we estimate at the end of January”, said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The EU intended to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros in aid – 33 billion in loans, 17 billion in grants – over four years, starting in 2024.
The granting of this aid is considered critical for Kiev, as the $60 billion US aid requested by US President Joe Biden to be approved by Congress remains subject to negotiation, due to Republican reservations, as reported by international agencies and relayed by the Athens News Agency. .
Absent
The European leaders, however, managed a few hours earlier to reach an agreement on the start of accession negotiations with Ukraine.
In this case, Mr. Orbán chose to abstain from the process, in order not to adopt the decision that he has not ceased to describe as disastrous for the future of the EU.
The Hungarian prime minister “wasn’t in the room when the text was adopted, it was agreed with him,” a European diplomatic source explained on condition of anonymity. “This is a pragmatic solution (…) The political message has been sent,” he continued.
Through a video uploaded to Facebook, Viktor Orbán emphasized that his government did not want to “share the responsibility” for the “irrational” choice of the remaining 26 member states and therefore decided to “abstain”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saw “a victory for Ukraine, for all of Europe, a victory that motivates, inspires and makes us stronger.”
The White House and the State Department welcomed the “historic” decision on Europe and the “transatlantic partnership”.
Although the process is said to be long, the symbolism is strong for the country, which has been at war since February 24, 2022, when the Russian army invaded Ukrainian territory.
For Charles Michel, the decision to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and with Moldova is “a strong message of hope for the citizens of these countries and for our continent”.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised “the strong message of support” to Ukraine that offers “perspective” to that country. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke of a “reasonable, fair and necessary” response to the Ukrainians’ desires.
A few hours earlier, Mr. Orbán expressed his refusal to accept this step: “There is no reason to discuss with anyone, the conditions are not fulfilled,” he said coming to the meeting.
Mr. Zelensky was waiting for good news from Brussels, at a time when negative signals from Washington are multiplying.
In recent weeks, clouds have been gathering over Ukraine, whose counteroffensive has not brought the expected results, as Western aid, absolutely necessary for its war effort, is blocked.
As the crucial Brussels meeting began, Russian President Vladimir Putin showed his faith in Moscow’s victory. “Practically along the entire length of the contact line, our forces are improving their positions,” he assured.
“If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is a real danger that he won’t stop there,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned once again.
The EU has also decided to grant candidate country status to Georgia and, once it has established sufficient compliance with the conditions it has set, to start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Source: News Beast
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