INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
agree on a 50 billion euro package of financial aid for Kyiv due to opposition from Hungary.At a summit in Brussels, other leaders bypassed
objections from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban by getting him to leave the room while they took the historic step of agreeing to
start accession negotiations with a country at war.But they could not overcome resistance from Orban - who maintains close ties to Russia -
managing migration.They ended talks on the financial package, which requires unanimity of the 27 EU leaders, in the early hours of Friday
morning and said they would try again in January, with some voicing optimism a deal could be clinched then.Officials said leaders of 26 of
get such large amounts of money from the EU budget as it is not part of the bloc
Other leaders have assured Kyiv they channel aid to Ukraine outside the EU budget if Budapest maintains its blockade.The news on the
financing struck a bittersweet note for Ukraine, coming just hours after leaders agreed to open membership talks.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
against Russian forces has failed to make major gains and with U.S
President Joe Biden so far unable to get a $60 billion package for Kyiv through the U.S
A victory for all of Europe
leave the room to clear the way for a decision, diplomats and officials said
talks but EU diplomats suspected he was using the issue as a bargaining chip to try to unlock EU funds frozen over concerns about the rule
refunds for economic projects after finding it had fulfilled conditions on the independence of its judiciary.Orban stood by his objections
with a population of 44 million, Ukraine presents some unique challenges for admission to the 27-member bloc.But membership talks will
likely take years and will not start immediately.First, the EU will have to agree to a negotiating framework for the talks - which will
require another unanimous decision
The leaders said they would take this step once Ukraine meets outstanding requirements on democracy and the rule of law.Source:
