European Union leaders agreed to open membership talks with Ukraine, even as it continues to struggle with Russian invasion, but failed to agree a 50 billion euro bailout package for Kiev over opposition from Hungary.
At the Brussels summit, other leaders overrode Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's objections by forcing him to leave the room as they took the historic step of agreeing to open accession talks with a country at war.
But they could not overcome opposition from Orban, who maintains close ties to Russia, to overhauling the bloc's budget to direct vital financial support to Ukraine and provide more money for other EU priorities such as managing migration .
In the early hours of December 15, they broke off talks on the financial package, which requires unanimity from the EU's 27 leaders, and said they would try again in January, with some expressing optimism that a deal could be reached then.
Officials said the leaders of 26 of the EU's 27 member states were satisfied with the compromise budget proposal presented by summit chairman Charles Michel.
"We still have time, Ukraine will not run out of money in the next few weeks," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told reporters as he left the hall. "I am quite confident that we can reach an agreement at the beginning of next year, we are thinking about the end of January," Rutte said.
Orban argues that Ukraine should not receive such large sums from the EU budget as it is not part of the bloc. Other leaders have assured Kiev that they will channel aid to Ukraine outside the EU budget if Budapest maintains its blockade.
The news of the funding is bittersweet for Ukraine as it comes just hours after leaders agreed to start membership talks.
Although membership is likely to take many years, the decision at the Brussels summit brings Ukraine one step closer to its long-term strategic goal of aligning itself with the West and freeing itself from Moscow's orbit.
The move comes at a critical time for Ukraine, after its counter-offensive against Russian forces has failed to make significant gains and after US President Joe Biden has so far failed to push through the US Congress a $60 billion package for Kiev.
"This is a victory for Ukraine. This is a victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"I congratulate every Ukrainian on this day ... History is created by those who never tire of fighting for freedom".
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz played a key role in getting Orbán to leave the chamber and clear the way for the decision, diplomats and officials said. Scholz said the decision was a "strong sign of support" for Ukraine.
The leaders also agreed to open accession talks with another former Soviet republic, Moldova, and grant a third, Georgia, candidate status.
"It is clear that these countries belong to the European family," Scholz said on social media X.
The leaders said they would also open membership talks with Bosnia and Herzegovina after it made certain political reforms. /BGNES
