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The EU was unable to agree on a crucial 50 billion euro financial aid package for Ukraine after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán vetoed the proposal, raising questions about Europe’s continued support for Kiev.
The breakdown in funding talks, seen as crucial to Ukraine’s financial stability through 2024, follows repeated failures in the US Congress to agree to a $60 billion aid package proposed by the White House. This has raised concerns that Western powers’ resolve to hold on to the country’s hold on as the battle with Russia continues will weaken.
EU leaders, who were locked in negotiations over the package until early Friday morning, are scheduled to return to Brussels in early 2024 for financing talks, and there is a possibility they will provide cash to Kiev without Mr Orbán’s cooperation. be.
The failure of the effort was announced hours after leaders agreed to start accession talks with Ukraine. This is a milestone on Kiev’s path to joining the EU once the war with Russia ends, and Brussels’ support for the country’s Western course.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, has announced a funding package for Ukraine aimed at supporting the Kiev budget for 2024-27 with a total of 21 billion euros for the EU common budget, including funds for migration and defence. It was linked to a wide range of additional funding.
According to European Council President Charles Michel, who chaired the summit, the leaders of the 26 countries supported the supplementary plan, but Prime Minister Orbán refused to agree to it, forcing a reconvening in January.
Prime Minister Orbán posted on social media platform His veto came despite Brussels unlocking 10.2 billion euros in EU funds to Hungary, which had previously been blocked on rule of law grounds.
Mr. Orban, the only EU leader to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin this year, is the Kremlin’s closest partner in Europe and has consistently opposed Western sanctions aimed at punishing Russia for war. I have raised my voice.
The alternative of raising funds for Ukraine through an agreement between the 26 EU member states is being considered as an alternative.
“We have a variety of tools in our hands to ensure that we deliver on our political priorities,” Michel said.
But such a device would only last a year, officials said. They are also more expensive and take longer to set up.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the 26 member states could proceed without Hungary, but it would be “much more complicated”. “I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to make a breakthrough against Hungary early next year,” he added.
Ahead of the summit, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán threatened to block the start of accession talks and a financial support package, underscoring his cracked stance toward Kiev after nearly 22 months of war.
Prime Minister Orbán ultimately relented on the membership issue, choosing to leave during the debate to try to reach an agreement.
“The European Council has decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova,” Michel said. “This is a clear sign of hope for our peoples and for our continent.”
He added: “It was important that no member state objected to this decision.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote about X in response to the move to join the EU: It’s a victory for all of Europe. A win that motivates, inspires, and empowers. ”
The leaders said a “negotiating framework” for Ukraine and Moldova’s accession – the first part of the process – would be adopted after it was determined that both countries had met the reform demands set out by the commission in its November report. We agreed on that.
The formal process of EU membership could take years, require more than 70 decisions, and could block any member state’s progress.
EU leaders also agreed to start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina, pending a European Commission review of its compliance with accession standards in March. Georgia was also granted EU candidate status.
Additional reporting by Laura Dubois and Javier Espinoza in Brussels, Marton Dunai in Budapest and Max Seddon in London