Slovak PM Accuses German Chancellor of "Blackmail" Over EU Budget Tied to Ukraine Funding

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has publicly criticized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, accusing him of "blackmail" for conditioning Germany's support for the European Union's 2028-2034 budget on all member states agreeing to contribute to Ukraine's significant funding shortfall. This highlights growing internal EU tensions regarding financial assistance for Kyiv, with several countries signaling reluctance for further contributions.