Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of blackmail after Merz proposed linking the approval of the European Union's next long-term budget to providing new financial assistance to Ukraine. Four EU countries immediately opposed this condition – Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary, and Bulgaria.
According to Euronews, Fico called the German chancellor's position "a classic example of blackmail" and threatened to use the veto right.
"We have equal voting rights on this issue. Just as Mr. Merz talks about using the veto right, I can say the same. We have the same veto rights as the Federal Chancellor of Germany," Fico stated during a meeting with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in Bratislava.
Babiš, for his part, noted that Merz likely does not realize that the draft of the next EU budget already envisages 100 billion euros for Ukraine. At the same time, these funds will become available only from 2028, whereas next year Kyiv will be short of about 70 billion euros.
"Today we must respond to blackmail. What the federal chancellor is doing is a classic example of blackmail, and I reject it. We are a sovereign country. We are the Slovak Republic. We have our own position," Fico emphasized.
Merz increased pressure on European partners in a letter to European Council President António Costa, stating that new assistance to Ukraine is a "necessary precondition" for approving the next EU budget.
Brussels has promised to cover approximately two-thirds of Ukraine's financial deficit – about 45 billion euros. The mechanism for providing these funds has not yet been determined. Given the scale of Ukraine's needs, a new joint borrowing by the European Union quickly became one of the most likely options.
This funding is to supplement the already agreed loan of 90 billion euros to support Ukraine. Slovakia, Czechia, and Hungary secured exemption from participation in it.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev also stated that the high level of budget deficit is grounds for exempting his country from future credit obligations to Ukraine. According to him, Bulgaria will continue to support Kyiv in other ways, in particular through energy supplies.
"Bulgaria in no way blocks decisions adopted at the level of the EU Council by common consent, so that everyone can support Ukraine according to their capabilities," Radev said.
EU assistance to Ukraine - other news
Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz threatened to block the European Union budget for 2028–2034 if all member states of the bloc do not agree to participate in financing Ukraine in 2027 and subsequent years.
Merz emphasized that in 2027 Ukraine risks facing a financing deficit of 70 billion euros. In addition, the German chancellor wants future decisions on financing Ukraine to be adopted by qualified majority vote rather than unanimously.
In the absence of alternatives, the EU's total debt related to assistance to Ukraine could soon exceed 200 billion euros. According to calculations by WELT AM SONNTAG, Brussels will likely have to provide Kyiv with more than 40 billion euros additionally – beyond the already transferred 166 billion – through joint borrowing.