German Chancellor Merz threatens to block EU budget unless four holdouts — Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic — commit to funding Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will block the EU’s 2028–2034 budget unless every member state agrees to long-term financial support for Ukraine. His position links negotiations over the bloc’s next budget to a dispute over how Ukraine will be funded from 2028 onwards.

Kyiv is expected to need €70 billion in external financing in 2027, and the EU has pledged to cover about €45 billion, or two-thirds. Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have said they will not provide further aid; all four receive more from the EU budget than they contribute, while Germany is the bloc’s largest net contributor. Elections in France, Italy and Poland next year may complicate talks further, with French candidate Marine Le Pen pledging to end aid to Ukraine if elected.