German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the EU must secure funding for Ukraine next year before resolving its dispute over the bloc's next budget. (EPA Images pic)BRATISLAVA: The Czech and Slovak prime ministers on Tuesday slammed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for urging "a collective commitment" by fellow European Union members to help fund Ukraine.
Merz has said in a letter seen by AFP that the EU needs to agree on funding to keep Ukraine going next year as it keeps battling a Russian invasion before the bloc can resolve a standoff over the next budget.
Brussels has said Kyiv is facing a €70 billion (US$78 billion) shortfall in 2027, of which the 27-nation EU should look to cover some €45 billion.
