https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/no-deal-on-ukraine-aid-then-no-deal-on-eu-budget-merz-saysContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/no-deal-on-ukraine-aid-then-no-deal-on-eu-budget-merz-sayshttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/no-deal-on-ukraine-aid-then-no-deal-on-eu-budget-merz-says#u199852Sat, 14 Nov 2026 04:00:15 +0000German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has demanded that Ukraine funding be included in the EU's seven-year budget and warned Germany may block the entire budget unless every member state contributes. Four countries—Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic—are identified as holdouts. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has accused Merz of blackmail. Ireland has called for Ukraine funding to be central to the budget. Merz also wants the issue moved up the EU summit agenda. No agreement has been reached, and the budget dispute remains unresolved ahead of the summit.Why it mattersThe EU is