BRUSSELS, Dec 11: Ukraine sounded the alarm over its European ambitions on Monday as EU leaders face a struggle to agree renewed financial support and an invitation to Kyiv to start formal membership talks.
The leaders of the 27 European Union states meet on Thursday at a summit that could decide the fate of a promised 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in aid, additional funds for weapons shipments and opening Ukraines path to join the bloc.
But agreement on the key issues must be unanimous, and Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban has threatened to block any new support for Ukraine, 21 months after the Russian invasion.
With United States backing for Ukraine under threat from Republicans in Congress, the prospect that support from the countrys other main ally may also falter terrifies its government.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told reporters on Monday he "cannot imagine" the fallout if EU leaders snub Kyivs hope of membership talks.
"I don even want to talk about the devastating consequences that will occur shall the Council fail to make this decision," he said when he arrived in Brussels on Monday to help prepare the European Council summit.
Kulebas boss, President Volodymyr Zelensky, has long stressed how vital it is that European capitals decide this year to start formal EU membership negotiations with his country. —AFP