The Ukrainian parliament has asked the EU countries to start negotiations on EU membership of Ukraine. The 27 heads of state and government will discuss this in the coming days at their EU summit from December 13 to 15 in Brussels. The European Commission has already proposed to start these negotiations; however, the formal decision lies with the Member States.
European leaders are expected to give the green light, but pro-Russian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is threatening to block the admission process. He is also against more financial EU support (50 billion euros) to Ukraine. Kiev also wants the EU to introduce new sanctions against Russia to intensify economic and political pressure on the country.
It would be a great shame for the EU if no decision is made this week (due to Hungary's resistance?) about admission or more financial support for Ukraine, as is already being noted in Brussels corridors.
Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week, during which she promised further support.
The Netherlands supports negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova on membership of the European Union, Bruins Slot wrote to the House of Representatives. The European Commission wants to open negotiations to this end with both countries. Discussions can also be held with Bosnia later, but that country must first take steps to do so.
After talks with her counterpart Kuleba, Slot said Kiev has made progress on the reforms required by the EU. “We are positive about the recommendations of the European Commission on the membership negotiations with Ukraine, because your future lies with us,” Slot told the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. The Netherlands plans to provide 2.5 billion euros in support for Kiev next year.
Zelensky and Slot also discussed the situation on the front line in Ukraine, the functioning of the alternative 'grain corridor', the strengthening of Ukraine's air defenses, as well as the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets with support from the Netherlands.