Fico Accuses Merz of Blackmail Over Ukraine Funding
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of blackmail after Berlin linked Ukraine funding to European Union budget talks. Fico rejected the pressure and asserted his veto power against the proposal.
Slovakia Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Germany of blackmail on Tuesday afternoon after Berlin linked funding for Ukraine to the European Union's long-term budget talks. The dispute centers on Berlin's demand that all EU members contribute to a €70 billion funding gap for 2027. The clash exposes deep fractures within the bloc as negotiations begin for the next seven-year budget running from 2028.
