Hungary Blocks Ukraine Aid After E.U. Opens Door to Membership

Author: Dave Dave Source: WSJ:

December 14, 2023 at 23:00

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, at a news conference following the announcement of accession talks for Ukraine and Moldova.Credit...Virginia Mayo/Associated Press

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine welcomed the breakthrough in Ukraine’s official opening of accession negotiations to join the bloc. Securing more financial aid will have to wait.

Hungary on Friday blocked the European Union from approving a financial aid package for Ukraine, though E.U. leaders agreed to officially open accession negotiations for Ukraine to join the bloc, an important breakthrough for Kyiv as it tries to bolster support from its allies.

The decision about E.U. accession came at a crucial time for President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who had just returned from a bruising visit to the United States, where he pleaded for desperately needed money for his war effort that is being held up by political divisions in Congress.

Even though accession will take years, the announcement on Thursday was a symbolic win that was likely to rile President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, who has decried Ukraine’s European ambitions as a form of aggression.

“This is a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens,” Mr. Zelensky said on X in response to the news.

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