- Although membership would likely be many years away, the decision at a summit in Brussels takes Ukraine a step closer to its long-term strategic goal of anchoring itself in the West and liberating itself from Moscow's orbit.
European Union leaders made a historic decision on Thursday to open membership talks with Ukraine, bypassing objections from Hungary to give Kyiv a major. political boost as its war against Russia's ...
'Historic': EU chose to be 'geopolitical actor' in granting Ukraine membership talks
European Union leaders made a historic decision on Thursday to open membership talks with Ukraine, bypassing objections from Hungary to give Kyiv a major. political boost as its war against Russia's invasion grinds on.
- Although membership would likely be many years away, the decision at a summit in Brussels takes Ukraine a step closer to its long-term strategic goal of anchoring itself in the West and liberating itself from Moscow's orbit.
- The move came at a critical time for Ukraine, after its counter-offensive against Russian forces had failed to make major gains and with US President Joe Biden so far unable to get a $60 billion aid package for Kyiv through the U.S. Congress.
As the EU grants Ukraine membership talks in midst of war, bypassing Hungarian objections, FRANCE 24's Tom Burges Watson is joined by Anastasiya Shapochkina, Geopolitics Lecturer at Sciences Po (in France) and President and founder at Eastern Circles Geo-Economics Think Tank.
References:
The Australian · Feb 10, 2023
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2 "A clear signal of hope for the Continent"
European Council President Charles Michel, who was chairing a Brussels summit of the EU's 27 leaders where the decision was made, called it “a clear signal of hope for their people and our continent.”
- Although the process between opening negotiations and Ukraine finally becoming a member could take many years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the agreement as “a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe.”
Left on the summit agenda now is a promise to give Ukraine the money and wherewithal to stave off Russia's invasion, another agenda item held up by Orban.
The Hungarian leader came into the summit vowing to both block the plans by his 26 fellow leaders to officially declare that membership negotiations with Ukraine can start, and more pressingly, deny Kyiv 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in financial aid that the country desperately needs to stay afloat.
“It was important that no member state would oppose this decision,” said Michel, adding he was confident a consensus could be found on the financial aid.
The surprise came at an dire time for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, straight off a trip to Washington where his pleas for more aid from the U.S. Congress fell on deaf ears.
“Ukraine will not stand without supports and ongoing support from both the European Union and the U.S,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar had warned. "Barring that, he added “well then, Putin will win.”
The urgency to find a solution is matched only by the potential blow to the EU's credibility, Zelenskyy said in a video address to the leaders.
“Nobody wants Europe to be seen as untrustworthy. Or as unable to take decisions it prepared itself,” he said.
Referring to Putin, he added, “Don’t give him this first – and only – victory of the year. Europe must win, agreements must be honored.”
The Hungarian leader came into the summit vowing to both block the plans by his 26 fellow leaders to officially declare that membership negotiations with Ukraine can start, and more pressingly, deny Kyiv 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in financial aid that the country desperately needs to stay afloat.
- “The European Union is about to make a terrible mistake and they must be stopped — even if 26 of them want to do it, and we are the only ones against it,” Orban said in comments released by his office Thursday.
- “This is a mistake, we are destroying the European Union.”
- A beaming Michel came down in the summit media room unscheduled and said “This is a historic moment, and it shows the credibility of the European Union. The strength of the European Union. The decision is made.”
“It was important that no member state would oppose this decision,” said Michel, adding he was confident a consensus could be found on the financial aid.
The surprise came at an dire time for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, straight off a trip to Washington where his pleas for more aid from the U.S. Congress fell on deaf ears.
“Ukraine will not stand without supports and ongoing support from both the European Union and the U.S,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar had warned. "Barring that, he added “well then, Putin will win.”
The urgency to find a solution is matched only by the potential blow to the EU's credibility, Zelenskyy said in a video address to the leaders.
“Nobody wants Europe to be seen as untrustworthy. Or as unable to take decisions it prepared itself,” he said.
Referring to Putin, he added, “Don’t give him this first – and only – victory of the year. Europe must win, agreements must be honored.”
“Whatever it takes” had been the relentless mantra of the EU in pledging its support, leaders dressed up in the yellow and sky-blue colors of Ukraine, and countless speeches ending with the rallying cry “Slava Ukraini!” — “Glory to Ukraine!”
And again, against the odds, the EU prevailed.
The EU, a group of 27 nations which still cherish their independence on strategic and foreign affairs issues, works by unanimity on most issues relating to Ukraine. Orban is seen by many as Putin's foot in the summit door, Putin's wrecking ball to demolish EU support for Zelenskyy.
The EU, a group of 27 nations which still cherish their independence on strategic and foreign affairs issues, works by unanimity on most issues relating to Ukraine. Orban is seen by many as Putin's foot in the summit door, Putin's wrecking ball to demolish EU support for Zelenskyy.
Even ahead of the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had already taken Orban aside in an attempt to make him change his mind.
“It is important that a clear signal of support be sent here – a signal directed to the courageous citizens of Ukraine, who are defending their country, but a signal also directed to the Russian president," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Orban has complained of corruption in Ukraine and has demanded a “strategic discussion” on the country’s future in Europe as the war with Russia bogs down and concerns mount about what kind of administration might emerge in Washington after the U.S. elections in a year.
“It is important that a clear signal of support be sent here – a signal directed to the courageous citizens of Ukraine, who are defending their country, but a signal also directed to the Russian president," said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Orban has complained of corruption in Ukraine and has demanded a “strategic discussion” on the country’s future in Europe as the war with Russia bogs down and concerns mount about what kind of administration might emerge in Washington after the U.S. elections in a year.
- Orban has been at odds with his fellow EU leaders for years, ranging from fights over COVID-19 recovery money to his declining respect for the Western democratic principles that are the essence of the EU.
- Yet as the longest-serving EU leader, he knows how to play the summit room like few others and has been able to extract financial concessions time and again to shore up his struggling economy.
(AP)
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