The idea for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to leave the room when other EU leaders voted to open membership talks with Ukraine was proposed by Germany's Olaf Scholz, sources have told DW's team in Brussels.

DW's Jack Parrock said there had been a "crazy few hours" at the final EU summit of the year because Orban had threatened to veto any support for Kyiv.

"The idea for him to leave the room was actually an initiative by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz," said Parrock.

"It is possible to overcome unanimity by one leader leaving the room, and essentially what they call it is a 'constructive abstention'."

"They're not in the room, the other leaders can move forward, and that means they can open the accession talks with Ukraine."