Chancellor Friedrich Merz calls for every EU member to commit to Ukraine’s immediate financing and contribute to its support from 2028, making collective participation a condition for progress on the next budget.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made a collective commitment to finance Ukraine, with no exceptions for EU members, a prerequisite for addressing its funding shortfall and moving on to other financial matters. A German government official said support from every member was essential to completing the EU’s 2028–34 budget.
In a letter to European Council President António Costa seen by The Guardian, Merz also called for every member to contribute to a sound financial outlook for Ukraine from 2028 under the next seven-year budget. He said support for Ukraine’s defense was a shared vital interest, but that only a few member states carried most bilateral assistance.
The EU previously agreed to lend Ukraine €90 billion (about $101 billion) for 2026–27, intended to cover two-thirds of its military and civilian costs. The loan was a fallback after a Merz-led proposal to use €210 billion (about $235.7 billion) in Russian sovereign assets frozen in the EU failed amid opposition led by Belgium, where most of the assets are held.
Russian bombardment subsequently increased Ukraine’s costs, and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested an additional €70 billion (about $78.6 billion) to fill a budget shortfall. The EU endorsed his figures and pledged to find €45 billion (about $50.5 billion); other allies, including the UK, are expected to provide the remainder.
Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia opted out of the existing loan and have indicated they will also stay out of the next round. Bulgaria has joined their opposition to participating.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called Merz’s position “typical blackmail” and said he would not give in. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, whose government also rejects taking part in a future loan, said he did not know why Merz was taking that position.
The foreign ministers agreed in Paris to increase financial and material support for Ukraine’s energy security, building on an earlier pledge to help the country through winter.
Germany is the EU’s largest net budget contributor. It wants steep cuts to the proposed budget and opposes generous EU funding for members that refuse to contribute to Ukraine’s financing. Berlin is also seeking to replace unanimity on Ukraine-funding decisions with qualified-majority voting, which would prevent a single government from blocking a decision.
Costa’s spokesperson said he would make time for leaders to address Ukraine at the informal European Council meeting in Dublin. Ukraine financing is also due for discussion at the special EU-budget summit on 26–27 November. Costa wants a budget agreement by the end of 2026, ahead of elections in France, Poland and Italy in 2027 that are likely to complicate negotiations.
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