TRANSCRIPT
Ukraine's President says Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has no reason to block Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he raised the matter with Mr Orbán during their meeting in Buenos Aires on Sunday.
“I was right and very direct. The key is very direct to him, that he has no reasons to block Ukrainian membership to EU. And I ask him to tell me one reason, not three, five or ten. Tell me one reason. I am waiting for an answer.”
Mr Orbán, though, has maintained that he will block the proposal, which requires a unanimous decision by the leaders of all the bloc's 27 countries.
“The government's current position is that a rapid accession of Ukraine to the European Union would have unforeseen consequences. Ukraine's accession on a fast track is not in the interests of Hungary or the European Union.”
He explains why.
“We are interested in a peaceful and prosperous Ukraine, but this requires the establishment of peace as quickly as possible and a considered deepening of a strategic partnership. Which could one day, in a few years' time, even lead to Ukraine's membership of the European Union. But only when the time comes. There is a time for everything. But the time for Ukraine's membership of the European Union has not yet come.”
EU leaders are expected to vote on whether to begin membership talks for Ukraine during a summit in Brussels running on the 14th and 15th of December.
Charles Michel is the European Council President.
“It is not a secret that this European Council will be a difficult one. But I do not give up. And we will work a lot in the hours to come. And I count the sense of collective responsibility on all sides to make us stronger and more influential to protect our fundamental interests everywhere across the European Union.”
The European Union's chief executive Ursula Von der Leyen says this is the time for the bloc to show its full support.
“As the war drags on, we must prove what it means to support Ukraine 'for as long as it takes'. Ukraine is not only fighting against the invader, but for Europe and joining our family will be Ukraine's ultimate victory. And for this, we have a decisive role to play.”
And Ukraine isn't getting the support it has hoped for from the United States.
President Zelenskyy was in Washington DC earlier this week where he met with US President Joe Biden in an attempt to seek more funding and support for his nation's fight against Russia's invasion.
But Republicans have been reluctant to sign off on a funding request from President Biden under which Ukraine would receive A$92.2 billion.
House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson says Mr Biden's administration must provide more detail about how the money would be used.
Mr Biden has told the Ukrainian president not to give up hope, saying Congress should fund additional aid.
“This is one of those moments. Congress needs to pass the supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break on holiday recess before they give Putin the greatest Christmas present they could possibly give him. And because we see what happens when dictators don't pay the price for the damage the deaths and destruction they cause and they keep going when no price is paid. The threat to America, to Europe and the world will only keep rising if we don't act. And I intend that we act.”
And he did act, not to the tune of the billions of dollars, but rather in the hundreds of millions.
“Whoa. Whoa. Hush up for a second, ok? I've got one more thing to say. I have just signed another 200 million dollar draw down from the Department of Defense for Ukraine. And that will be coming quickly.”
Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy says a Russian strike on Kyiv has left dozens injured.
“Last night Russia launched another strike again, Jonas (Store) said about it, on Ukraine with ballistic missiles, particularly dangerous ones. And Russia targeted civilian infrastructure, no military infrastructure. All the infrastructure was civilian, it's very important. Over fifty people were injured, ordinary peaceful citizens. Strengthening the air shield remains a critical priority for us. It's a basic of life now for most Ukrainians.”
