MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia said on Friday that the European Union’s decision to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova was a politicised decision that could destabilise the bloc, and praised Hungary for objecting to the move.

“Negotiations to join the EU can last for years or decades. The EU has always had strict criteria for accession and it is obvious that at the moment neither Ukraine nor Moldova meets these criteria,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“It is clear that this is an absolutely politicised decision, the EU’s desire to demonstrate support for these countries. But such new members could destabilise the EU, and since we live on the same continent as the EU, we, of course, are closely watching this.”

At a summit on Thursday, EU leaders agreed to open entry talks with Ukraine even though it is in the middle of a war that Russia says it will pursue until it meets its objectives.

Other leaders bypassed objections from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban by getting him to leave the room while they took the historic step – a point that Peskov highlighted with irony.

“Waiting for someone to go out for coffee, so that in their absence they can push through some decision – if this is true, then this is a unique practice,” he said.

The EU agreed at the same meeting to give Georgia – which like Ukraine and Moldova was once part of the Soviet Union – the status of membership candidate.

Peskov said that too was a politicised decision.

“To our regret, often the (EU) desire to demonstrate this political will is dictated in many ways by the desire to further annoy Russia and antagonize the EU in relation to Russia,” he said.

The summit failed to agree on a 50 billion euro package of financial aid for Kyiv due to opposition from Hungary.

“Hungary has its own interests. And Hungary, unlike many other EU countries, firmly defends its interests, which impresses us,” Peskov said.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Frances Kerry)

Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.