In a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, Merz made Germany’s support for the EU’s 2028-2034 multiannual financial framework conditional on a unanimous commitment to provide additional funding for Kyiv, Anadolu Agency reported.
According to the newspaper, Merz said all member states must contribute fairly to closing Ukraine’s estimated €70 billion ($78.4 billion) funding shortfall, describing such a commitment as essential to resolving the issue and discussing other financial matters.
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The warning comes ahead of an informal EU leaders’ summit in Dublin on Friday, where Merz has insisted that the funding gap must be addressed.
In December 2025, the bloc agreed to provide Ukraine with a €90 billion ($100.7 billion) loan covering 2026 and 2027. However, Ukrainian officials and their allies say Russia’s ongoing military campaign means Kyiv needs substantially more financial support.
The European Commission is examining options to cover approximately two-thirds of the additional funding requirement, or around €45 billion ($50.4 billion), with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end of this year.
Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have indicated they will not provide additional funding, according to media reports.
