EU Chief Ursula Von der Leyen debates with Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands

Описание: Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/eudebates President Ursula von der Leyen hosts Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Greenland Múte Bourup Egede, Prime Minister of Faroe Islands Aksel Vilhemson Johannesen.

#Denmark #Greenland #FaroeIslands #FAROE #vonderLeyen

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban blocked 50 billion euros ($55 billion) in EU aid for Ukraine on Friday, after leaders skirted his opposition to opening talks with Kyiv on joining the bloc.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський
Right now in Ukraine, a lot of us are feeling really uplifted, and it’s a big deal – it keeps us going. I want to say a huge thank you – to each of you for everything we’ve managed to accomplish! To all those who strengthen Europe by the unity of Ukraine. A special gratitude to all our guys and girls who are in the fight for Ukraine. To those who are battling right now, defending our freedom, helping our soldiers – treating them, training them, getting weapons to them, and making those weapons. All we achieve, would have been impossible without that heroic bravery of our people, our nation, which inspires the whole world.

European Union leaders could not reach an agreement on a $54 billion aid package for Ukraine on Thursday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.

EU leaders held a summit focused on Ukraine policy in Brussels starting Thursday.

“We still have some time, Ukraine is not out of money in the next few weeks,” Rutte said, according to Reuters.

He added that Hungary was the only EU member state not to go along with the deal, which will be considered again in January.

The announcement comes hours after the group officially opened EU ascension negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, a years-long process both nations have long sought after.

That development overcame opposition from Hungary, whose leader, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, has been openly skeptical of support for Ukraine. Orbán controversially met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in October.

Pro-Ukrainian leaders in the EU pressed the case for the billions in aid, which comes as the war in Ukraine stalemates on the front lines as winter sets in.

“Ukraine will not stand without supports and ongoing support from both the European Union and the U.S.,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. Barring that, he added, “well then, Putin will win.”

Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelensky was also in the U.S. on Tuesday to meet with President Biden and congressional leaders in an attempt to secure additional aid. Congress remains deadlocked over a border security bill, which Republicans say is a prerequisite for Ukraine aid.

Military analysts have warned that additional Western aid is needed in Ukraine, as the Russian invasion nears a second year. Biden warned this week that failing to secure additional aid for the country could embolden Putin.

“I don’t want you giving up hope,” Biden told Zelensky during his visit Tuesday. “We’re going to stay at your side.”

“Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must, we must, we must prove him wrong,” Biden said. “Ukraine’s success and its ability to deter aggression in the future are vital to security for the world at large.”

The President of the European Council has announced that the EU will start accession negotiations with Ukraine.

In a message posted on X, Charles Michel said: "The European Council has decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine & Moldova.

"#EUCO granted candidate status to Georgia. And the EU will open negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina once the necessary degree of compliance with the membership criteria is reached and has invited the commission to report by March with a view to taking such a decision.

"A clear signal of hope for their people and for our continent."

An EU official said: "There has been a decision of the European Council on this matter which has not been opposed by any member of the European Council."

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban was reportedly absent from the room during the vote.

The 27 leaders of the European Union decided on Thursday to begin accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova.

During a high-stakes summit in Brussels, heads of state and government also granted Georgia the status of candidate country, having previously been denied such title.

"It's a very powerful political signal, it's a very powerful political decision," Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, told reporters.

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