Dispute over Ukraine billions – demands from Eastern Europe cause outrage in Germany

The planned additional financial aid for Ukraine is causing disputes within the European Union. According to a report by WELT partner publication “Politico”, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are demanding that they do not have to participate in the financial security of a new EU loan. The demand has met with sharp criticism in German diplomatic circles - also because the three states are insisting on extensive funding from the EU budget.

“This absurdity shows once again how out of touch with reality some people are when it comes to the EU budget,” a German diplomat told Politico. In his view, the demand for an exception to Ukraine aid cannot be reconciled with the desire for higher regional funding.

“How can anyone seriously believe that our taxpayers would be willing to transfer even one euro more in cohesion funds to those who refuse to take part in countering the greatest threat to the security of us all?” said the diplomat. He added: “There is no cohesion when it comes to free riding.” Cohesion funds are EU funding intended to reduce economic and social differences between regions.

New EU loan of up to 45 billion euros

The background is Ukraine's additional financial needs in the coming year. In total, Kyiv is to receive a further 70 billion euros. Of this, partners such as Canada and Japan could take on around 25 billion euros, while the Europeans should provide a loan of up to 45 billion euros.

According to the report, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia want to be excluded from financial protection, as was the case with the 90 billion euro loan that had already been agreed. Repayment using frozen Russian state assets is therefore a possibility, but not guaranteed. The dispute is now also overshadowing the negotiations over the EU budget.

Bulgaria also rejects participation

Last week, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rumen Radev rejected his country's participation in the new financial aid. “Bulgaria cannot be involved in this 70 billion in any way,” he told reporters in Twarditsa, according to the Bulgarian news agency BTA.

Radev pointed out that Bulgaria - unlike Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia - had participated in the EU loan of 90 billion euros approved last year for the years 2026 and 2027. The war is depleting European economies and leading to social tensions and political instability, he explained. At the same time, Radev called for the war to end as quickly as possible: “The outcome will not be achieved by military means.”