# Merz threatens EU budget veto over Ukraine aid

> Germany's chancellor signals he will block the EU's seven-year budget unless all member states commit to funding Ukraine, angering leaders in central Europe.
- Title: Merz threatens EU budget veto over Ukraine aid · the Guardian
- Summary: Germany's chancellor signals he will block the EU's seven-year budget unless all member states commit to funding Ukraine, angering leaders in central Europe.
- Keywords: friedrich merz, ukraine aid, eu budget, slovakia, robert fico, european union, germany, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/nov/10/friedrich-merz-accused-blackmail-ukraine-aid-eu-budget
- Published: 2026-11-10T16:44:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: friedrich merz, ukraine aid, eu budget, slovakia, robert fico, european union, germany, news, world
## Merz threatens budget veto
Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor, has signalled he will block the EU's seven-year budget unless there is a deal on financial aid for Ukraine.
## Slovakia and Czechia reject the demand
Slovakia's prime minister Robert Fico called Merz's position "typical blackmail". Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš also rejected taking part in future Ukraine funding.

> What the chancellor is doing is typical blackmail, and I will not give in to it.
## Merz's case for collective support
Merz wrote to European Council president António Costa that bilateral assistance to Ukraine is "carried mostly by only a few member states" and all must contribute.

> bilateral assistance to Ukraine is distributed unevenly and carried mostly by only a few member states.
## Ukraine's funding shortfall grows
The EU lent Ukraine ninety billion euros last year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has since called for seventy billion euros to fill a budget shortfall from Russia's bombardment.
## Who is opting out of funding
Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia opted out of the ninety billion euro loan. Bulgaria, following the election of Moscow-friendly prime minister Rumen Radev last April, has now joined them.
## Merz seeks to change voting rules
Berlin is seeking to switch decision-making on Ukraine funding from unanimity to qualified-majority vote to prevent one government from blocking EU decisions on the matter.
## Budget talks set for late November
European Council president António Costa wants a budget deal by year's end. Ukraine finance will be discussed at a special summit on twenty-six to twenty-seven November.
## Key takeaway

Friedrich Merz has threatened to block the EU's seven-year budget unless there is a deal on financial aid for Ukraine, triggering accusations of blackmail from other European leaders.