European Union agrees to start accession negotiations with Ukraine

The European Union decided on Thursday to begin access negotiations with Ukrainea stunning triumph for a war-torn country that had struggled to find support for its membership aspirations and was facing opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

European Council President Charles Michel, who was chairing a summit of the 27 nations that make up the EU, where the decision was made, described it as “a clear sign of hope for its people and for our continent.”

Although the process between starting negotiations with Ukraine and full membership of that country could take years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky applauded the decision, calling it a “a victory for Ukraine, a victory for all of Europe.”

“History is made by those who do not tire of fighting for freedom,” declared Zelenskyy.

Remaining on the summit agenda is a promise to give Ukraine the money and support to defend itself from the Russian invasion, another issue that is blocked by Orban.

The Hungarian leader came to the summit vowing to block both a move to begin membership negotiations with Ukraine and a plan to give Kiev 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in financial assistance.

“The European Union is about to make a terrible mistake and it must be stopped, even if 26 countries want to do it and we are the only ones to oppose it,” Orban said in comments released by his office on Thursday. “This is a mistake, we are destroying the European Union.”

The leaders thought that a decision would not be made until at least Friday, so the announcement came completely by surprise, after Orban did not block the measure of his colleagues.

Michel, with a satisfied expression, went unexpectedly to the press room and declared: “This is a historic moment, and it demonstrates the credibility of the European Union, the strength of the European Union. “The decision has been made.”

He said negotiations will begin and a report will be delivered to EU leaders in March.

“It was important that no member state opposed the decision,” Michel declared, adding that he was confident that consensus will be found on economic aid.