“A bad decision,” criticizes Victor Orban. The Hungarian Prime Minister on Thursday, December 14, abstained from voting for European Union leaders to start accession negotiations with Ukraine. “Hungary does not want to share the responsibility” for this “senseless” decision of the 26 other countries and “has therefore abstained from voting,” explained Viktor Orban in a video published on Facebook. On the eve of the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Twenty-seven, Hungary received 10 billion euros from the EU. Follow our live stream.
The EU gives the green light to start accession negotiations with Ukraine. The European Union has decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine, EU Council President Charles Michel announced on Thursday X, on the first day of a summit of heads of state and government of the Twenty-seven. “This is a victory for Ukraine. A victory for all of Europe. A victory that motivates, inspires and strengthens,” reacted Volodymyr Zelensky X. For his part, Charles Michel described the EU's green light as “a clear signal of hope for its people and for our continent”.
Russia is “moving forward.” Vladimir Putin showed on Thursday his confidence in victory in the conflict in Ukraine. “Almost along the entire line of contact, our armed forces are improving their positions,” the Russian president said during his major press conference in Moscow, a week after announcing his intention to remain in the Kremlin. In his opinion, Russia has a “sufficient security margin” due to the “strong consolidation of Russian society”, the “stability of the country's financial and economic system” and the “increase in military capabilities” on the part of Moscow.
Moscow wants to pursue its goals. After nearly two years of deadly fighting, Vladimir Putin said his goals remained unchanged: “The denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine, its neutral status.” The solution “will be negotiated or achieved by force,” he warned.
NATO fears that Russia will continue its advance beyond Ukraine. If Russia wins in Ukraine, there is a “real risk” that Vladimir Putin will not stop there, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned again on Thursday in Brussels. “Our support is not charity, but an investment in our security,” he added. “An end to military aid to Ukraine would only prolong the war and not end it,” warned Jens Stoltenberg.