Germany's Merz Ties Backing for Next EU Budget to All-Member Ukraine Funding as Kyiv Faces €70 Billion Gap
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made Germany's support for the European Union's 2028-2034 long-term budget conditional on all 27 member states contributing to Ukraine's funding. In a letter to European Council President António Costa, Merz called for a reliable, multi-year funding plan for Ukraine from 2028, including interest payments on outstanding debt.
Kyiv faces a shortfall of about €70 billion next year, and the European Commission is examining options including joint borrowing, with EU leaders due to discuss the funding at a summit in Dublin. In the letter, Merz argued that support for Ukraine is in the bloc's shared vital interest, but complained that the burden is spread unevenly and carried mostly by only a few member states.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Berlin of blackmail over linking Ukraine funding to discussions on the EU's next long-term budget. A German government official said financial support for Ukraine from all EU member states was essential to completing the budget deal successfully. On November 10, Merz reiterated that supporting Ukraine is a collective responsibility of the European Union and that assistance to Kyiv must not be weakened.
(Source: German Federal Chancellery)
Source: German Federal Chancellery
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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