[Special correspondent of Global Times in Germany Aoki Special correspondent of Global Times Liu Zhi Zhen Xiang Yuyang] "Take two steps and take a step back." The two-day EU summit was held in Brussels from 14th local time. The main agenda included whether to decide to start Ukraine’s accession negotiations and whether to vote on whether to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros of economic assistance. Before this EU summit, many analysts predicted that after "returning empty-handed" from the United States, Ukrainian President Zelensky would most likely face the disappointment brought to him by Europe. However, Michel, President of the European Council, unexpectedly announced on the first day of the summit that the EU had decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine. This made Zelensky shout "Victory". However, only a few hours later, Hungary blocked an important European aid plan for Ukraine. In this regard, the Financial Times, Washington post and other media commented on the 15th that the EU summit was mixed for Ukraine. On the one hand, the country won a symbolic victory on the issue of joining the EU, but at the same time, it further aggravated the uncertainty of Ukraine’s continued financial assistance from the EU and the United States, which may have a profound impact on the development of the conflict situation between Russia and Ukraine.
"Put out one hand and take back the other."
On the 14th local time, Michelle announced on social media that the European Council had decided to start negotiations on Ukraine and Moldova’s accession to the EU. He also said that the EU decided to grant Georgia EU candidate status and to start accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina "after meeting the necessary accession criteria".
Many European media reported that this decision was passed because Hungarian Prime Minister Orban voted "absent" that day. Orban had been resolutely opposed to "Ukraine’s accession to the EU" before, but after the European Commission announced on the 13th that it would unfreeze some frozen funds for Hungary, his tone was loosened. According to Reuters, Orban left the venue and did not participate in the voting when the voting began on the evening of 14th. Slovakia and Austria, which had previously opposed Ukraine’s "fast accession", did not vote against it, so the resolution was finally passed unanimously by 26 member States.
Orban later said on social media that the 26 countries resolutely made such a "meaningless, irrational and wrong" decision, and Hungary did not want to participate. The US "Political News Network" quoted people familiar with the matter as saying that it was German Chancellor Angela Scholz’s idea to suggest that Orban leave the venue so that the vote could be passed.
After the vote, Michelle said that this result "sent a clear signal of hope" to the Ukrainian people and Europe as a whole. Zelensky said on social media that the above results "created history" and were "a victory for Ukraine and Europe". Sullivan, Assistant to the President of the United States for National Security Affairs, also posted on social media that the United States welcomed the "historic move" of the EU to open accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, calling it "Realizing Europe — A key step in the Atlantic vision. "
However, the joy of "victory" has not lasted long, and Ukraine has been poured with a bucket of "cold water". In the early morning of 15th local time, Orban announced on social media that he would vote against providing extra funds to Ukraine. As for their objection, Orban said that they wanted to use money to continue the war, which violated Hungarian interests.
Michelle said that except for Orban, the leaders of the remaining 26 countries all agreed to increase their budgets and aid programs. However, due to Hungary’s opposition, world leaders will continue to meet in January next year to discuss related issues.
German TV 1 commented on 15th that this was a historic decision and veto of the EU summit, and Orban became a key figure in the EU summit. Regarding the different results of the two agendas, the Financial Times described that the EU "extended one hand and took back the other" to Ukraine.
"Money is a more pressing problem"
The decision made by the European Union on the Ukrainian issue has drawn attention from all walks of life in Russia. According to the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported on the 15th, Russian Presidential Press Secretary peskov said on the same day that Ukraine and Moldova did not meet the criteria for joining the EU. The negotiations may take years or even decades. He said: "No matter from the perspective of EU operation or from the perspective of economy, the EU is not at its best in history. Therefore, it is definitely a politicized decision for the EU to negotiate with the two countries. The EU hopes to show its support for these countries. But there is no doubt that these ‘ New member ’ It may undermine the stability of the EU. We pay close attention to developments. "
Peskov said: "Hungary is a sovereign country. The country has its own interests, and Hungary, unlike many European countries, clearly knows to defend these interests. President Putin said yesterday that Hungary and other countries should not think that defending their own interests is pro-Russia. They just have enough consciousness and independence to defend their own interests. "
On 15th, RIA Novosti quoted Toponen, an associate professor of European law at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, as saying: "The process of Ukraine’s accession negotiation will be long, painful and complicated, and it will not be easy. Obviously, this may last for many years. Everything will depend on how the negotiations develop and how Ukraine can effectively eliminate existing problems. "
Talking about Ukraine’s failure to get 50 billion euros of new aid from the EU, Russian political scientist Jin Zu told Russian satellite news agency that with the passage of time, it will be more difficult for EU countries to coordinate their aid to Ukraine. "To sum up briefly, at present, there is a split within the EU, which is similar to that in the United States. The division within the United States has intensified the division within Europe. More and more European countries are opposed to providing assistance, so the prospect of Ukraine getting money from Europe has become increasingly bleak. "
CNN reported on the 15th that the EU decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine, which is both a practical step forward and an important symbolic moment. However, the EU failed to reach an agreement on aid to Ukraine, which cooled the "excitement" in Kiev. For Ukraine, this is not just a fly in the ointment. "Frankly speaking, Kiev needs cash to continue this battle, and money is a more urgent issue."
Europe is bound to lose?
Agence France-Presse said on the 15th that with doubts about the support of the United States, Kiev is trying to urgently change the outside world’s statement that its support from Western allies is weakening. Opening accession negotiations with Kiev does not mean that Ukraine will join the EU soon. Before the negotiations start, EU countries must reach an agreement on the negotiation framework, which gives Orban an opportunity to delay the relevant process again. At the same time, Orban’s absence from voting in the accession negotiations may be repeated in future discussions, weakening EU unity. Cypriot President Christodoulides said: "I think this is a negative precedent." According to reports from Reuters, Orban said on the 15th that although the EU approved the launch, Hungary could still block Ukrainian negotiations on joining the EU.
According to Russian media reports on the 15th, Stier, a Hungarian journalist and member of the Valdai International Debate Club, said: "The Russian-Ukrainian conflict will end in failure in Europe. Europe is voluntarily allowing the United States to weaken its position on the world stage. European politicians don’t understand or don’t want to understand what is happening in Ukraine. They didn’t realize that Europe’s competitiveness was being affected. Ukraine cannot win this conflict. We sympathize with the Ukrainian people, but we must truly evaluate what is happening. Misunderstanding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is dangerous for Europe, because in this proxy war, Europe will definitely lose. "