European Union leaders agreed on Thursday, December 14, to open formal membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, despite an earlier threat from Hungary to veto the deal.
A European diplomatic source told Agence France-Presse that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban had agreed to not be in the room when the other 26 leaders backed a consensus decision.
European Council President Charles Michel, host of the EU summit, announced the agreement in a social media post, dubbing it: "A clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent."
A senior European official told reporters: "There has been a decision of the European Council on this matter which has not been opposed by any member of the European Council."
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the European Union's decision to open accession talks with Ukraine was "a victory" for his war-torn country and "all of Europe." "A victory that motivates, inspires, and strengthens," he posted on X. "History is made by those who don't get tired of fighting for freedom."