European Council President Charles Michel called the agreement “a signal of hope for your people and for our continent.”

President Volodymyr Zelensky has celebrated a “victory” for Ukraine and the European continent after European Union leaders agreed to open up Member discussions with his country despite Hungary’s months-long resistance to Kiev’s accession.

The decision was announced on Thursday at a summit of 27 EU countries, where the bloc also agreed to start formal accession negotiations with Moldova.

European Council President Charles Michel, host of the summit, announced the deal in a social media post, calling it “a clear signal of hope for your people and for our continent.”

Zelensky hailed the decision as “a victory for Ukraine.” A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens,” he said in a post on X.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said it was “a strategic decision and a day that will remain etched in the history of our Union.”

“These countries belong to the European family,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Michel said the summit gave Georgia EU candidate status and would also push forward an EU bid from another candidate – Bosnia and Herzegovina – once the country had reached “the required level of compliance” with the criteria.

Hungary not in the summit room

EU diplomats said Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban was not in the summit room for the vote on Ukraine, but knew that other leaders would vote in his absence and was okay with that. Orban had promised for weeks to block the deal, which he called a “bad decision” on Thursday.

“Hungary’s position is clear: Ukraine is not prepared for us to start talks on EU membership,” he said, calling the decision “irrational” and “inappropriate.”

The Hungarian leader had also promised at the summit to deny Kiev 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in financial aid that the government urgently needs to stay afloat during its war with Russia.

“26 member states insisted that this decision must be made, so Hungary decided that if 26 decide to do this, they should go their own way, and Hungary does not want to take part in this bad decision,” Orban said.

The EU, whose members still value their independence on strategic and foreign policy issues, generally works by consensus.

Orban said negotiations on aid for Ukraine would continue.

Zelensky traveled there earlier this week the USAwhere he advocated for more American aid, but his proposal faces major hurdles when it comes to passage by the US Congress.

Some EU leaders had previously warned that not agreeing to start negotiations with Ukraine would have been seen as a victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After Moscow’s invasion in February 2022, Ukraine launched its bid to join the EU and was officially declared a candidate country in June of the same year.

Comrade of the former Soviet republic and neighbor Moldova had submitted an application at the same time as Ukraine.

The War in Ukraine has breathed new life into the EU’s stalled push to admit new members as the bloc tries to keep the influence of Russia and China in check.

In June 2022, the European Commission set out seven reform goals for Kiev to meet, including fighting corruption and curbing the power of its oligarchs, before talks were due to begin.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said Thursday’s EU decision showed it “highly appreciates the reforms we have carried out in recent years and the implementation of all the European Commission’s recommendations.”

“A difficult path lies ahead of us. We are united and ready,” he said.

The talks themselves are likely to take years.

EU treaties oblige members to “use all means within their power” to assist another EU country that is the victim of armed aggression on its territory. If Ukraine were to become an EU member during the war with Russia, EU countries would have to respect this.

The EU would also gain a long new border with Russia and Belarus, which would have security implications. migration and defense.