Fico and Babiš slam Merz’s threats to block EU budget over Ukraine: This is blackmail
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš reacted negatively to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s threats to block the EU budget over a lack of agreement on funding for Ukraine in 2027 and beyond.
Censor.NET reports, citing Ukrinform.
Fico’s statement
"Some say that if we don’t support the €70 billion loan to Ukraine, the European Union budget won’t be adopted. But we have just as much say. Mr. Merz talks about a veto, and I can say the same thing. We have the same right to veto as the German federal chancellor …
"Call it whatever you like, but I’m speaking on behalf of Slovakia. What the federal chancellor is doing is classic blackmail, and I reject it," the Slovak prime minister said.
He added that he wanted to discuss plans for "responding to the blackmail" with his Czech counterpart, Babiš.
What did Babiš say?
"If Mr. Merz is threatening to block the European budget, he must have forgotten that it sets aside €100 billion for Ukraine … This approach is unacceptable, and we cannot accept such threats.
"We are sovereign states! We are full members of the European Union … Neither Slovakia nor the Czech Republic is subordinate to anyone. We never have been and never will be," the Czech prime minister said.
Babiš also said he did not understand why the European Council had yet to appoint people to participate directly in peace talks on Ukraine.
"I categorically reject the idea that peace is impossible! We have to make an effort. We’re paying for all of this! We pay directly, and we also pay through high energy prices and in many other ways.
"It’s unacceptable for the Americans or anyone else to negotiate on our behalf while we sit in a corner, only to hear later that someone supposedly reached some agreement and have it graciously handed down to us from above! That’s not going to happen," he said.
The Czech prime minister said Europeans should once again become a major political player in peace talks on Ukraine.
"At the European Council meeting, we couldn’t even agree on whether we would negotiate at all, who exactly would lead the talks or how we would conduct them. This is a matter of principle," Babiš added.
Background
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier warned that Berlin would block the European Union’s next budget for 2028–2034 unless all member states committed to providing financial support to Ukraine in 2027 and beyond.
