EU budget battle erupts as four countries defy Merz over Ukraine aid

AI Summary

Four EU countries are resisting German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's push to tie approval of the bloc's next long-term budget to new financial support for Ukraine. Slovakia's Robert Fico accused Merz of blackmail, escalating a dispute over the EU budget and Ukraine aid.

Slovakia's Robert Fico accused the German chancellor of "blackmail" as four EU countries resisted his demand to link approval of the bloc's next long-term budget to fresh financial support for Ukraine.