Day 660 of the Invasion of Ukraine: EU Begins Membership Talks With Ukraine, Orban Blocks 50 Billion In Aid

Day 660 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

• The EU begins membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, Georgia is a candidate
• Hungary blocks 50 billion euros for Ukraine
• The EU approved a new package of sanctions against Russia
• Zelensky made a surprise visit to the American command for Europe in Germany
• Tensions between Helsinki and Moscow: Finland closes its border with Russia again
• The US Senate will vote on military aid to Ukraine and Israel next week
• Ukraine received second German Patriot air defense system
• Putin announced that 617 thousand people are fighting for Russia in Ukraine

The EU begins membership negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova, Georgia is a candidate

European leaders decided to launch membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova and grant candidate status to Georgia on Thursday in Brussels. Negotiations will also start with Bosnia and Herzegovina when it meets the conditions for this, the Council announced.

The news was surprisingly announced by European Council President Charles Michel just two hours after European leaders began debating the enlargement point.

On the social platform X, former "Twitter" Michel wrote that the decision was "A clear sign of hope for their peoples and for our continent."

Speaking to reporters immediately afterwards, Michel described the decision as "a historic moment showing the reliability and strength of the EU".

During the discussion, the leaders watched a video address by...