And Russian-threatened Moldova…
European Union leaders have agreed to start membership talks with Ukraine and neighboring Moldova. The decision brings President Volodymyr Zelensky a step closer to achieving a lasting alliance with the West.
It comes at a critical time for Ukraine with its counteroffensive stalling in Donbas and House Speaker Mike Johnson rejecting the Biden administration's latest aid package for Kyiv.
As Politico reports:
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán left the room when the decision on enlargement was taken, according to a national official and a EU diplomat who were both briefed on the discussion. This allowed for an unanimous decision from the European Council, which another EU official, who like the others was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the circumstances, said was completely legal under EU law.
“If someone is absent, they are absent. Legally it is totally valid,” added the official.
Orbán, who had vehemently opposed the opening of accession talks for Ukraine, criticized the agreement reached without him by European leaders.
“Hungary does not want to be part of this bad decision!” Orbán said in a statement posted on Facebook.
The head of the EU Council, Charles Michel, also announced on Thursday that the country of Georgia has been granted EU membership candidate status.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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