Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has blocked 50 billion euros in EU aid to Ukraine after leaders ignored his opposition and agreed to start talks with Kyiv to join the bloc, AFP reported.
The Brussels summit broke down after a day of contention as Hungary's authoritarian leader refused to give the green light to aid funding for the Ukrainian government over the next four years. Orban has called for all still-frozen EU funds for his country to be unblocked before considering lifting his veto on further aid to Ukraine.
"This is a great opportunity for Hungary to make it clear that our country should get what it deserves. Not half, then a quarter, but we should get everything," Orbán said. "That's why we want to be treated fairly and now there's a great chance to do that," he added.
The disputes added a bitter flavor to the summit, a day after the leaders, without Hungary's participation, took the historic decision to open talks with Ukraine on its accession to the bloc.
The second day of the summit is expected to be devoted to the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the search for a common EU position on it. EU countries are divided between those who support calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, backed by an overwhelming majority of the UN General Assembly and those who support the Israeli and US position that a ceasefire would tie the hands of Israel, which trying to destroy Hamas.
With the issue of grants and loans to Ukraine blocked by Hungary, the other 26 EU leaders decided to hold another meeting early next year to try to reach an agreement. The Hungarian nationalist blockade dealt a blow to Kyiv and its supporters just hours after they celebrated opening the door to accession talks.
Kyiv is urgently trying to change the perception that support from its Western allies is waning as doubts surface about US support. Orban agreed to walk out of the negotiating room to allow other EU leaders to reach a consensus decision without him.
But he took to social media to lash out at the "totally senseless, irrational and wrong decision". Other EU leaders hailed the move, which also included agreeing to start accession talks with Moldova, as a decisive moment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not present at the heated summit, called the decision "a victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens." Along with support for Ukraine, EU leaders agreed to open membership talks with Moldova. Moldovan President Maya Sandu said her country had opened "a new page today".
The White House, which faces opposition from US Republicans over support for Ukraine, hailed the "historic decision". The agreement to open membership talks with Kyiv does not mean that Ukraine will join the EU anytime soon.
Before negotiations can begin, EU states must agree on a negotiating framework, giving Orbán plenty of room to delay the process again. /BGNES
