Slovakia’s Fico Accuses Merz of Blackmail Over EU Budget Link to Ukraine Aid

Why it matters

The dispute could determine whether EU governments establish a common financing framework for Ukraine and how Ukraine funding is incorporated into the EU’s 2028–2034 budget. Slovakia’s refusal and veto threat create a risk of delay or blockage. It also exposes a deeper divide over whether European support for Ukraine should be tied to budgetary compromises and whether Europe should act primarily as a financial backer or play a stronger political role in peace negotiations.

What happened

In a November 9 letter to European Council President António Costa, Friedrich Merz called on every EU member state to contribute to financing Ukraine. He estimated Ukraine’s external financing gap for 2027 at approximately €70 billion, of which about €45 billion would need to come from the EU. Merz said a universal commitment was a prerequisite for discussing other EU financial matters and indicated that Germany’s support for the 2028–2034 budget depended on agreement by all member states to finance Ukraine from 2027 onward.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Merz of blackmail, rejected the proposed linkage and said Slovakia would not participate in a new €70 billion financing package. He said the country would use the EU opt-out mechanism and threatened to use Slovakia’s veto if necessary. Fico nevertheless maintained that Slovakia was ready to provide humanitarian and practical assistance, including generators, demining equipment and equipment for clearing debris.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš also opposed making Ukraine financing a condition for adopting the EU’s next financial framework. Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Czechia indicated they would not contribute to further financial assistance. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said Bulgaria would not join new financing because of its budget deficit but would not block joint EU decisions on aid to Kyiv.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

Ukrainian reporting centers on the confrontation between Fico and Merz, particularly Fico’s allegation of blackmail and his warning that Slovakia could block or delay decisions. The coverage also emphasizes opposition to linking the EU budget to Ukraine financing from Czechia and Hungary. Ukraine’s projected funding needs are prominent in this framing, which presents the dispute as a major obstacle to securing reliable European support.

How international sources describe it

German coverage presents Ukraine assistance as a shared European responsibility and argues that bilateral support is distributed unevenly. It highlights Germany’s position as the EU’s largest budget contributor and Ukraine’s largest financial supporter, alongside the security rationale for continued aid. The broader dispute is framed as a test of EU solidarity ahead of the informal EU and European Political Community meetings in Dublin.

Where reporting differs

Merz treats a universal commitment to finance Ukraine as a prerequisite for progress on other EU financial matters, while Fico characterizes that approach as blackmail and threatens to use Slovakia’s veto. Babiš likewise opposes making Ukraine financing a precondition for the next EU financial framework, even though his proposal includes funding for Ukraine and he supports a postwar reconstruction plan. Magyar also rejects the linkage, citing Hungary’s costly role in protecting EU borders and sanctions it says cost the country billions. Fico and Babiš support continued assistance and stronger European involvement in peace negotiations, but reject the proposed connection between that financing and the EU budget.

Background

The EU agreed in December 2025 to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan, with 24 of 27 member states indicating readiness to contribute. Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary declined to participate and obtained exemptions from interest payments. The EU is now considering additional external borrowing and the use of frozen Russian assets as possible sources of further support. Leaders are due to discuss Ukraine financing at an informal Dublin summit on November 12–13, while negotiations continue over the seven-year EU budget for 2028–2034.