Congressional leaders remain hopeful, however, that a deal will yet be agreed with Republicans, who have made aid conditional on enhanced Mexico border controls. Meanwhile,the lone veto-wielding EU hold-out against aid, Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán, was nevertheless forced to concede an opening of EU accession talks with Ukraine. The welcome decision by the EU Council early on Friday morning to open accession discussions with both Ukraine and Moldova, a milestone on Kyiv’s path to joining the EU, is a commitment to continuing EU solidarity. It is an important morale boost to Ukraine and a political blow to President Putin who sees its EU membership as an act of aggression. Orbán, by his abuse of the system, is forcing removal or dilution of the veto on to the union’s agenda.

Source: The Irish Times December 18, 2023 08:21 UTC