Orban doesn't block accession talks, still says 'EU membership of Ukraine is a bad decision.'

The European Council has agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, European Council President Charles Michel announced on Dec.

14. The decision came amid fears that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban would block the start of the negotiations. In a statement on Facebook following Michel's announcement, Oraban said "EU membership of Ukraine is a bad decision.

Hungary does not want to participate in this bad decision!" An EU source told the Kyiv Independent that "PM Orban was momentarily absent from the room in a pre-agreed and constructive manner." Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has friendly ties with Russia, has also opposed discussing the £53 billion Ukrainian aid package Ukrainian aid  in the EU's budget and said that Ukraine is "light years" away from EU membership.

The remaining 26 EU member states were determined to overcome Hungary's objections and move forward with key priorities for Ukraine, senior EU officials told journalists on Dec.

13.

BREAKING: European Council agrees to open accession talks with Ukraine, Moldova

The European Council has agreed to open accession talks with Ukraine and Moldova, European Council President Charles Michel announced on Dec.

14.

The Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Malenko