Fico accusa Merz di ricatto per il finanziamento ucraino,pressing dell’Unione europea sul bilancio

Perché è importante

La disputa potrebbe determinare se gli Stati membri dell’Ue raggiungeranno un quadro comune per finanziare l’Ucraina e come gli aiuti saranno inseriti nel bilancio europeo per il periodo 2028–2034. Il rifiuto della Slovacchia e la minaccia di veto possono за блокувати або затримати домовленість урядів ЄС. Розбіжність also exposes a major divide over whether Europe should remain primarily a financial backer for Ukraine or gain a stronger political role in peace negotiations.

Che cosa è successo

In a November 9 letter to European Council President António Costa, Friedrich Merz called on all EU countries to help cover Ukraine’s projected 2027 external financing gap. He estimated the gap at about €70 billion and said the EU would need to provide approximately €45 billion. Merz argued that bilateral assistance was unevenly distributed and presented a universal commitment by all member states as a prerequisite for discussing other EU financial matters, including Germany’s support for the 2028–2034 budget.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rejected the linkage as blackmail. He said Slovakia would not join the proposed €70 billion package, would use the EU opt-out mechanism and, if necessary, exercise its veto. He nevertheless maintained that Bratislava would continue humanitarian and practical assistance.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš also opposed making an agreement on Ukraine’s future financing a precondition for adopting the EU’s next multiannual financial framework, warning that blocking the budget could also block funds earmarked for Ukraine. He supported continued assistance and called for a clear European political mandate allowing the EU to participate in Ukraine peace negotiations and influence their outcome. Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar also rejected linking the EU budget to Ukraine aid, while Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said Bulgaria would not join new financing because of its budget deficit but would not block EU decisions on assistance.

Come la raccontano le fonti ucraine

Ukrainian and international coverage alike presents the confrontation as a major obstacle to securing predictable European funding for Ukraine. Ukrainian reports emphasize Fico’s accusation of blackmail, Slovakia’s threatened veto and the opposition from Czechia and Hungary. They also highlight the calls by Fico and Babiš for stronger European representation in peace negotiations, questioning whether Europe should function only as a financial donor.

Come la raccontano le fonti internazionali

German coverage frames the dispute around the need to distribute the financial burden more evenly, noting that Germany is the largest contributor to the EU budget and the largest financial supporter of Ukraine. German officials also present assistance to Ukraine’s defence as serving German and European security rather than charity alone. The broader issue is portrayed as a test of EU solidarity ahead of the informal summit in Dublin.

Dove le versioni divergono

Merz and Fico disagree fundamentally over whether a universal commitment to finance Ukraine should be linked to progress on the EU budget and other financial questions. Merz presents joint and exceptionless participation as a prerequisite; Fico calls this approach blackmail, rejects it and threatens a veto. Babiš also opposes making Ukraine financing a precondition for the multiannual framework, while Magyar criticizes the linkage as the wrong approach. At the same time, Fico and Babiš support continued assistance and a stronger European political role in Ukraine peace negotiations.

Contesto

The EU agreed in December 2025 to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan, with 24 of 27 member states indicating readiness to contribute. Slovakia, Czechia and Hungary declined to participate in the loan and obtained exemptions from paying interest. As the EU negotiates its seven-year budget for 2028–2034, it is considering additional external borrowing and the use of frozen Russian assets as possible sources of further support for Ukraine.