“Ukraine has seemingly moved one step closer to European Union membership after leaders in Brussels on Thursday agreed to open negotiations with the war-torn nation.
In a surprise announcement late Thursday, EU summit chair Charles Michel, who is the European Council president, said leaders had decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.”
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/14/eu-leaders-agree-to-start-membership-talks-with-ukraine-.html
A significant step in Ukraine’s move from under Russia’s boot. It won’t be cheap for the EU, but it does place the burden on them, and away from the US. A couple days ago, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister stated that he had spoken to Hungary’s FM, and that he was assured there would be no block. I was skeptical, but Victor Orban did indeed lift his veto. I wonder what he received in return.
They also began the process for Moldova. In a somewhat strange statement, the EU ambassador to Moldova said Moldova could join the EU without Transnistria.
“(EU) leaders had decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.”
That is one of the big decisions that were pending (the others being EU aid to Ukraine, NATO accession for Sweden, and American aid to Ukraine).
Victory for Ukraine, and the forces of freedom.
Bad news for Orc World.
The EU package of aid for Ukraine, is bundled with a lot of goodies for Hungary’s Orban, in addition to the expected unfreezing of 20 Billion more Euros of EU direct funding to Hungary, if he goes along with the aid for Ukraine, and the NATO accession of Sweden.
Reuters reports:
“Hungary has been keen on more EU funds to protect its borders from illegal migrants and pay third countries to keep migrants from crossing into Europe. The EU budget review, apart from the 50 billion for Ukraine, also has an additional 15 billion euros for such polices.”