Ukraine says it would be devastating if the E.U. doesn’t give a green light to their membership at the E.U. Summit
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine – Dmytro Kuleba, has said it would be “devastating” for Kyiv and the European Union (E.U.) if it is not given the green light for membership talks at the upcoming E.U. Summit.
The E.U. Summit will be held on December 14-15, 2023. The leaders will decide whether to launch membership negotiations with Kyiv and grant it € 50 billion (U.S. $ 53.8 billion) of economic support and how to continue military aid for Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Kuleba said, “The mother of all decisions, the most important decision is of course, the decision on opening accession talks. I cannot imagine, I don’t even want to talk about the devastating consequences that will occur shall the (European) Council fail to make this decision.”
Ukraine is keen to secure new financial assistance from Europe and there are doubts over further financial assistance from the U.S. The President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is set to visit Washington this week and address the Congress. Zelensky will focus on securing unity among the U.S., Europe, and the rest of the world on their support of Ukraine’s defence against Russia and strengthening the international order based on rules and respect for the sovereignty of nations. Zelenskyy and the President of the U.S. – Joe Biden will also discuss defensive cooperation efforts for the coming year, including joint projects to produce weapons and air defence systems.
The Prime Minister of Hungary – Viktor Orban, who is an ally of the President of Russia – Vladimir Putin, has threatened to veto the aid and enlargement talks at the Summit. Another decision that the E.U. needs to make is to decide what would be the E.U.’s 12th package of sanctions against Russia. Hungary has already watered down sanctions against Russia and December 2023, vetoed a deal to grant Ukraine € 18 billion.
Orban had initially opposed Ukraine’s membership, stating the ill-treatment of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. Later, he changed the narrative and said that Ukraine is too corrupt and not ready to join the E.U. However, Orban will be up against the Chancellor of Germany – Olaf Scholz, among others, who has said Berlin backs starting negotiations for Kyiv to join the E.U. someday.
If Hungary vetoes assigning € 50 billion to Ukraine through the bloc’s shared budget, the other E.U. countries could extend their contributions bilaterally to Kyiv.
Separately, Germany has opposed providing € 20 billion to Ukraine through an E.U.-run military fund – the European Peace Facility (EPF), in arms and other support.
