European Union leaders agree to open membership talks with Ukraine

Ukraine has moved one step nearer to European Union membership after leaders in Brussels agreed to open negotiations with the war-torn nation.

In a shock announcement late Thursday, EU summit chair Charles Michel, who’s the European Council president, stated leaders had determined to begin accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova.

“The European Council has determined to open accession negotiations with Ukraine & Moldova,” he stated by way of X, previously Twitter.

“#EUCO granted candidate standing to Georgia. And the EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina as soon as the mandatory diploma of compliance with the membership standards is reached and has invited the fee to report by March with a view to taking such a choice,” he added.

“A transparent sign of hope for his or her individuals and for our continent.”

The settlement comes regardless of Hungary pledging to dam this determination through the present two-day EU summit. A handful of different member states, equivalent to Italy, have additionally raised points over enlarging the EU.

Talking by way of X, Zelenskyy replied to Michel saying it was “a victory” for his nation and Europe. “A victory that motivates, conjures up, and strengthens,” he stated, in keeping with a Reuters translation.

Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, in the meantime, known as it a foul determination and stated by way of Fb that his nation didn’t take part within the decision-making course of.

— CNBC’s Silvia Amaro contributed to this text.