Zelenskiy asks EU leaders not to "give a victory" to the Russian president
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on on Thursday the leaders of the European Union states, gathered in Brussels, to allow the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin would exploit any failure on their part, reports AFP and Agerpres.
"Don't give Putin this first - and only - victory of the year," he urged.
Zelenski estimated that "there is no time for half measures or hesitations".
"Today is the day of a political decision in response to what we have achieved. It is about the opening of accession negotiations with Ukraine", declared the Ukrainian head of state in a video conference.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday reaffirmed his firm opposition to the start of negotiations for Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
In Strasbourg, members of the European Parliament expressed concern at the prospect of seeing Brussels "give in to blackmail" from Hungary.
Last week, Orban requested the withdrawal from the agenda of the European Union summit on December 14-15 of the two decisions regarding the budget support for Kyiv and the opening of the EU accession negotiations.
"The EU is close to making a terrible mistake and we must prevent this even if the other 26 members have a different opinion," insisted the Hungarian leader, who called for "a strategic partnership" between the EU and Ukraine rather than for a membership.
