by Nicolas Camut, Barbara Moens, Jacopo Barigazzi and Aitor Hernandex-Morales
European leaders have approved the opening of accession negotiations for Ukraine, European Council President Charles Michel announced Thursday.
The announcement comes at a critical time for Ukraine as its counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion stalled in recent weeks and $60 billion in aid from the U.S. is stuck in Congress.
While accession talks are likely to continue on for many years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the news was “a victory of Ukraine … a victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens.” This was a historic moment for Ukraine, which has made its aspirations to join the EU known for many years.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who had vehemently opposed the opening of accession talks for Ukraine, criticized the agreement reached without him by European leaders.
“Hungary does not want to be part of this bad decision!” Orbán said in a statement posted on Facebook.
Orbán left the room when the decision on enlargement was taken,…
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