Merz may block EU budget over Ukraine funding

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has made Germany’s support for the EU’s 2028–2034 budget conditional on all member states participating in funding Ukraine. This was reported on 9 November 2026 by European television news broadcaster Euronews and the Financial Times, as cited by other publications. According to the reports, the condition is set out in a letter to European Council President António Costa. Euronews explicitly says it has seen the letter.

Merz links budget to a collective commitment to Ukraine

According to Euronews, Ukraine faces a funding shortfall of €70 billion in 2027, and the EU has pledged to cover around two-thirds of that amount, or approximately €45 billion. The mechanism for providing the funds has yet to be determined. The broadcaster reports Merz’s position that a fair contribution from all countries, without exception, is a prerequisite for discussing other issues with financial implications.

The letter links the immediate shortfall to a longer-term task. According to Euronews, the chancellor wants negotiations on the next seven-year budget to secure a sustainable, multi-year financial outlook for Ukraine from 2028 onwards. The €45 billion cited for 2027 therefore does not constitute agreed funding for the entire next budget period.

Ukraine’s state news agency Ukrinform, citing the Financial Times, also reports a German government spokesperson’s position: Ukraine’s financial needs must be addressed within the next EU budget.

Reports differ on Bulgaria’s position

Meduza, an independent Russian publication operating from Latvia, cites the Financial Times as saying that Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Czechia are unwilling to provide additional financial aid to Kyiv. Ukrinform relays the same claim from the Financial Times.

Euronews, however, draws a narrower distinction. Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia are signalling that they again want to be exempted from joint borrowing to support Ukraine, Euronews reports. Bulgaria is described as being expected to follow them, rather than Sofia having already announced an official refusal.

The distinction is significant for Bulgaria’s negotiating position. Seeking an exemption from a specific financial instrument does not necessarily mean rejecting all additional aid. At the time of publication, Flank had not found an official Bulgarian position on Merz’s reported condition.

A condition has been set, but the budget has not been blocked

The full official text of the letter remains unavailable. The reports by Meduza and Ukrinform cite the Financial Times and do not constitute separate confirmations, while Euronews says it had its own access to the document. The reports describe a condition being set, not a budget that has already been blocked.

The official positions of the four countries named and the precise scope of any objections they may have remain to be clarified. This is a developing story and further information may be added.