Slovakia Resists German Pressure on Ukraine Loan Financing
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated during a joint press conference with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in Bratislava that his country will oppose German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s demands for all European Union members to contribute to Ukraine’s financing.
Fico referenced Merz’s assertion that all EU member states must participate in covering Ukraine’s financial deficit in 2027. He declared, “If the German Chancellor states that he will block the EU budget due to the non-participation of all countries in the 70 billion euro loan for Ukraine, Slovakia can also use its veto power to prevent the approval of this budget.”
The Slovak Prime Minister emphasized that financial aid to Ukraine should be distinct from negotiations concerning the EU’s long-term budget for 2028-2034, asserting that these two matters should not be linked.
Andrej Babiš, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, criticized Merz’s position during the meeting, noting that Prague had previously refused to provide guarantees for the Ukraine loan and sees no reason to alter this stance.
Babiš also commented on the projected allocation of 100 billion euros for Ukraine in the new EU budget draft. He proposed that future financial resources should be directed towards the country’s reconstruction after the conflict concludes, through a plan similar to the “Marshall Plan,” rather than funding ongoing war efforts.
Merz had previously sent a letter to Charles Michel, President of the European Council, requesting commitments from all EU member states to help finance Ukraine’s approximate 70 billion euro deficit in 2027. Estimates suggest the EU’s expected contribution to this amount would be around 45 billion euros.
Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary were previously exempted from participating in guaranteeing the EU’s 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine.
