www.gandul.ro/international/friedrich-merz-ultimat

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has issued an ultimatum to EU leaders, linking the approval of the next seven-year EU budget to a collective commitment from all member states to financially support Ukraine starting in 2027. In a letter to European Council President António Costa, Merz emphasized that without this commitment, he would block the budget for 2028-2034. Ukraine faces a significant funding deficit of 70 billion euros next year due to ongoing military aggression from Russia. While the EU has pledged to cover two-thirds of this amount, some member states have expressed reluctance to contribute further. Merz aims to ensure a solid financial perspective for Ukraine beyond 2028, as discussions on the EU budget coincide with upcoming elections in several member states.