EU leaders agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine at a charged summit on Thursday, after Hungary’s prime minister relented in his opposition to the historic step for the war-torn country.

The decision marks a major milestone on Kyiv’s determined path to join the union once the conflict with Russia’s war is over, and represents an endorsement by Brussels of the country’s western trajectory.

It is part of the EU’s proposed support package for Ukraine being discussed at the leaders’ summit in Brussels, alongside a four-year, €50bn fund from the bloc’s shared budget which has yet to be agreed.

The EU’s resolve to continue supporting Ukraine has become critical given the failure by the US Congress’s to agree on a $60bn package for Kyiv proposed by the White House.

“The European Council has decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova,” said Charles Michel, president of the European Council, who chairs the summit. “A clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent.”

He added to reporters: “It was important that no member states opposed this decision”.

“Proud that we have lived up to our promises,” said Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, who called it “a strategic decision.”

The decision came after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán chose to leave the room during the debate to allow agreement, according to people briefed on the talks.

“Hungary’s position is clear,” Orbán said on Facebook. “Ukraine is ill prepared . . . It is a completely senseless, irrational and incorrect decision to start negotiations with Ukraine under these circumstances.”

But, he said: “Hungary decided that if the 26 decide to do so, they should go their own way. Hungary does not want to share in this bad decision, and therefore Hungary has stayed away from the decision today.”
https://www.ft.com/content/deb40df7-7832-4fee-a822-655ab0288c05