BERLIN

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has confirmed that his “coffee break” formula was pivotal in breaking the logjam at this week’s EU leaders’ summit, and enabled opening EU membership negotiations with Ukraine.

Speaking at a news conference in Brussels on Friday, Scholz said he made the offer to Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban during the summit meeting, as all other leaders backed opening accession talks, but could not convince Orban.

“I suggested to the Hungarian prime minister if he could allow us to take that decision in his absence. He thought about this suggestion. I also asked him to take all the time he needed, and not to respond spontaneously. And he wanted to take up that proposal,” he said.

Earlier, the media reported that Scholz proposed Orban grab a coffee outside the room, and allow other EU leaders to reach a unanimous decision, which was required to open membership talks with Ukraine.

After the summit’s first day, Orban’s policy director told reporters that Hungary did not take part in the vote, as it did not consider Ukraine to be ready to start talks.

But 26 EU member states "thought differently,” he said, according to the national news agency, MTI.

"So after the talks, Hungary decided to leave the room and did not take part in the vote. Hence, Hungary did not prevent the decision from being taken, but it won't take responsibility for this erroneous decision," he said.