Politics · Germany · 1 hr ago
Merz threatens to block EU budget unless all states help fund Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says every EU member must help fund Ukraine.
Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have asked to be exempted from the next funding scheme.
Germany is seeking to help Ukraine cover its 2027 budget needs, including €70 billion still needed after €90 billion has already been disbursed.
The EU is expected to provide about €45 billion of the remaining amount.
Merz has threatened to block the EU's 2028–2034 budget unless all member states share the cost.
He says support for Ukraine is tied to Europe's shared security.
Ukraine is set to be discussed at European meetings in Dublin on November 12 and 13.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has threatened to block approval of the EU’s 2028–2034 budget unless all member states help fund Ukraine.
Merz set out his position in a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa on November 9.
Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic had asked to be exempted from Ukraine’s next funding scheme.
Germany says all EU countries should share the financial burden of supporting Kyiv.
The EU is expected to provide about €45 billion of the €70 billion Ukraine needs for its 2027 budget.
- Who
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and EU member states.
- What
- Merz threatened not to approve the EU’s 2028–2034 budget unless all member states participate in funding Ukraine.
- When
- Merz wrote to Antonio Costa on November 9. The articles were published on November 11, 2026.
- Where
- The European Union.
- Why
- Germany says support for Ukraine is a matter of shared European security and that all EU countries should share the burden.
Germany under Friedrich Merz
Slovakia
Budget approval
Germany under Friedrich Merz
Merz says he will not approve the EU’s 2028–2034 budget unless all member states contribute to Ukraine’s support.
Slovakia
Slovakia’s prime minister accuses Merz of blackmailing the EU.
Merz sent a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa setting out his position on funding Ukraine.
Le Monde EN and Bild published reports on Merz’s threat to block the EU budget.
Meetings of the European Political Community and the informal European Council were scheduled in Dublin, with Ukraine set to be a central topic.
- Ukraine’s remaining 2027 budget need
- €70 billion
- Already disbursed to Ukraine
- €90 billion
- Expected EU contribution
- About €45 billion
- EU multiannual budget under negotiation
- 2028–2034
- Countries seeking exemption
- Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic
3 sources
What people are saying
Supporting Ukraine is a matter of our indivisible European security, and so must be the burden sharing for that support.