The European Council decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova

The European Council decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. She also referred to the situation of Georgia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban was absent during the vote.

Information on the commencement of European Union accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova was provided by the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.

He also said that the European Council had granted Georgia the status of a candidate country.

The European Union will enter into negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria has been achieved and has asked the Commission to present a report by March enabling such a decision to be taken. This is a clear signal of hope for the people of these countries and for our continent

Michel wrote in his social media.

Volodymyr Zelensky: I congratulate all Ukrainians today

Volodymyr Zelensky also commented on the decision, stating that it was a victory for "Ukraine and all of Europe".

"Thank you to everyone who worked to make this happen and to everyone who helped. I congratulate all Ukrainians today," the Ukrainian president wrote in his media. "History is created by those who are not bored with fighting for freedom" - he added.

He also congratulated Moldova.

Position of the Prime Minister of Hungary

The decision was made during the meeting in Brussels. None of the leaders gathered at the meeting opposed the decisions. However, as reported by Reuters, European diplomats said that Viktor Orban was not present during the meeting. They said that the Hungarian Prime Minister knew about the position of other countries and agreed to vote in his absence.

Orban published a video on his Facebook with the caption "Ukraine's membership in the EU is a bad decision. Hungary does not want to participate in this bad decision"!

"The decision is completely incomprehensible, irrational, and incorrect. 26 countries insisted on this decision. Therefore, Hungary decided that if 26 want, let's follow their path, but without Hungary", the subtitles on the film say.

Even before the start of the summit, the Hungarian Prime Minister declared that he would maintain his position - opposition to the start of accession talks between the EU and Ukraine. He stated that Kiev had met only three of the seven conditions that countries entering negotiations with the EU should meet.