Extract from ABC News
The European Union has decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, a stunning reversal for a country at war that had struggled to find the necessary backing for its membership aspirations.
Key points:
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban abstained from the EU vote
- At an annual end-of-year press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the need for another mobilisation of reservists
- NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said Ukraine's allies must continue supporting Kyiv militarily
It comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed there would be no peace in Ukraine until his goals are achieved and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned of a "real risk" Mr Putin would not stop at Ukraine, if he achieves military victory there.
Although the process between opening negotiations and Ukraine finally becoming an EU member could take many years, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the agreement as "a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe".
"History is made by those who don't get tired of fighting for freedom," Mr Zelenskyy said.
European Council President Charles Michel, who was chairing a Brussels summit of the EU's 27 leaders where the decision was made on Thursday local time, called it "a clear signal of hope for their people and our continent".
Ukraine's accession had long faced obstinate opposition from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who said his opposition remained steadfast, but, with a unanimous decision required, he decided to let his right to oppose lapse because the 26 others were arguing so strongly in favour.
An abstention from him was not enough to stop the decision from being adopted.
An EU official, who asked not to be identified because the summit negotiations were private, said Mr Orban was "momentarily absent from the room in a pre-agreed and constructive manner" when the decision was made.
The Hungarian prime minister has complained of corruption in Ukraine and demanded a "strategic discussion" on the country's future in Europe as the war with Russia bogs down and concerns mount about what kind of administration might emerge in Washington after the US elections in a year.
"Hungary's perspective is clear: Ukraine is not ready for us to begin negotiations on its EU membership. It's a completely illogical, irrational and improper decision," Mr Orban said.
Putin says no need for second wave of mobilisation
At an annual end-of-year press conference in Russia, Mr Putin dismissed the need for a second wave of mobilisation of reservists, saying there were about 617,000 Russian soldiers currently in Ukraine, including about 244,000 troops who were called up to fight alongside professional Russian military forces.
Mr Putin did not hold his traditional press conference last year after his military failed to take Kyiv and as the Ukrainian army retook swaths of territory in the east and south of the country.
But with Ukraine's president returning to Washington to plead for US aid, a stalling counteroffensive and reports of fracturing Western support for Ukraine, the Russian president has decided to face the media.
Mr Putin opened by saying "there is no need" for mobilisation, following questions that Russians were concerned by that prospect.
The Russian president reiterated that Moscow's goals in Ukraine — "de-Nazification, demilitarisation and a neutral status" of Ukraine — remained unchanged.
The Neo-Nazi comment is one that has been oft repeated by Mr Putin but never found to be based in truth.
Mr Putin has also demanded that Ukraine remain neutral — and not join the NATO alliance.
"There will be peace when we will achieve our goals," he said.
NATO chief warns of 'real risk' Putin won't stop with Ukraine
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has said the "real risk" that Mr Putin will not stop with his invasion is why Ukraine's NATO allies must continue supporting Kyiv militarily.
"If Putin wins in Ukraine, there is real risk that his aggression will not end there. Our support is not charity. It is an investment in our security," he said.
"The only way to reach a just and lasting solution is to convince President Putin that they will not win on the battlefield.
"And the only way to ensure that President Putin realises that he is not winning on the battlefield is to continue to support Ukraine."
The NATO secretary-general's comments came as support for further aid to Ukraine has been faltering in the United States and the European Union as a result of internal political manoeuvring.
Opposition Republicans in the United States have opposed to providing more US military aid.
Meanwhile, left on the EU summit agenda now is a promise to give Ukraine the money and wherewithal to stave off Russia's invasion, another agenda item held up by Hungary's prime minister.
Mr Orban came into the summit vowing to both block the plans by his 26 fellow leaders to officially declare that membership negotiations with Ukraine can start, and more pressingly, deny Kyiv 50 billion euros ($82 billion) in financial aid that the country desperately needs to stay afloat.
Despite receiving weapons and ammunition from its allies, Ukraine has been unable over the past few months to make significant breakthroughs against entrenched Russian positions.
EU leaders were gathered in Brussels on Thursday for a summit at which aid to Kyiv and Ukraine's bid to one day join the bloc were the headline issues.
ABC/wires
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