Merz's Ultimatum on Aid to Ukraine in Exchange for Budget Rejected by Four EU Countries
European Council President António Costa tried to appease German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz after he sent a letter demanding to link the approval of the European Union budget with the commitments of all member states to finance aid to Ukraine. The German Chancellor's ultimatum has already been rejected by four states, writes Euronews.
In a letter seen by Euronews, Costa announced that both issues would be discussed at a special summit in Brussels at the end of November. This will happen after the European Commission submits proposals to cover Ukraine's financial deficit.
Merz, however, insisted that the issue be considered already at the informal summit in Dublin this week. Costa stated that, given recent developments, time would be allocated for a thorough discussion of the situation in Ukraine during this meeting. Thus, he gave the German Chancellor the opportunity to raise the topic before other European leaders.
The European Union has already promised to cover two-thirds of Ukraine's budget deficit, estimated at 70 billion euros. This is about 45 billion euros. The mechanism for allocating funds has not yet been determined. Given the large volume of needs, issuing new joint loans has become the most likely option.
Merz wrote to Costa that the commitment to allocate new aid to Ukraine should become a "key precondition" for the approval of the next EU budget. Thus, he effectively linked two contentious issues, the resolution of which requires the unanimous consent of all member states.
"Support for Ukraine is a matter of our common European security, and the burden of this support must also be shared," the German Chancellor wrote.
Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria have already spoken out against Merz's ultimatum. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called the German Chancellor's demand "blackmail."
These four countries want to achieve their exclusion from any future loans for Ukraine.
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