Leaders of EU member states tonight decided to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, a decision hailed as a “victory” by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The European Council “decided to start accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova,” its president, Charles Michel, said in a post on Platform X, referring to “a clear message of hope for the citizens of these countries and our continent.”

The unexpected decision, due to Hungary’s opposition, was immediately welcomed by Zelensky: “It is a victory for Ukraine, for all of Europe, a victory that inspires and makes us stronger,” he said. “History is written by those who do not get tired of fighting for freedom,” added the Ukrainian president who had earlier urged Europeans not to ignore this “rendezvous with history.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who had voiced dissent and was feared to veto, ultimately decided not to take part in the vote. “Orbán was not in the room when the text was adopted,” a European diplomat who asked not to be named told AFP. Other diplomats said, according to Reuters, that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested at the meeting that Orban leave the room when the decision on Ukraine is made.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told reporters that Orban had decided not to use the veto. “He disagrees with the decision and does not change his opinion, but in essence he decided not to exercise the right of veto,” he said, confirming that his Hungarian counterpart was not in the room.

In a video posted on Facebook, the nationalist Hungarian prime minister said his country did not want to “share the responsibility” of this “bad decision”.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre de Croix, commenting on the decision, said that the “green light” given by the EU to Ukraine is a “very clear message” to the Ukrainians and Russians.

Moldovan President Maya Sandu welcomed the EU’s decision, stressing that it is “a new page in the history” of her country as just two years ago “no one could have imagined” such a development.

The European Council also granted the status of a candidate country to Georgia while it will start, under conditions, negotiations with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Georgian President Salome Zourabisvili in turn welcomed the decision, which she called a “huge step”.