Jul 21, 2025
The German Chancellor stated that Slovakia and Hungary should be punished if they continue to oppose the EU sanctions policy against Russia.
Friedrich Merz threatens Hungary and Slovakia with withdrawal of funding.
Germany will consider supporting a suspension of EU funding to Slovakia and Hungary if these countries continue to oppose the EU sanctions policy against Russia, warned Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Budapest and, following the Slovak elections of 2023, Bratislava have distanced themselves from Western policies regarding the conflict in Ukraine. On Monday, the German chancellor lifted restrictions on Ukraine for using German long-range weapons deep inside Russia— a move the Kremlin called a “serious escalation.”
Referring to Hungary and Slovakia, Merz warned that EU member states that violate the rule of law could face infringement procedures, adding that “withholding EU funds is always an option… If necessary, then we will consider it.”
An agreement reached by the new German governing coalition before Merz’s inauguration reportedly refers to the prospect of withholding funds from states that need to be “punished,” as well as the possibility of abolishing the unanimity requirement for EU decisions.
The Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico, and the Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, have repeatedly criticized EU leadership and argued that Western military and financial support for Kyiv merely prolonged the conflict without yielding benefits. Fico survived an assassination attempt in May 2024, when he was shot at close range by a pro-Ukrainian activist.
“We won’t be able to avoid this conflict with Hungary and Slovakia if we continue on this course,” Merz stated. “We cannot allow decisions for the entire EU to be held hostage by a small minority. And there certainly could be clearer expressions and possibly tougher confrontations.”
Fico rejected Germany’s threat of funding cuts, calling it unacceptable and a violation of the bloc’s democratic values.
“If someone wants to promote a policy where only one opinion is allowed, that is the end of democracy in Europe,” Fico told journalists on Tuesday during a visit to Armenia.
Since coming to power in 2023, Slovakia has adopted what Fico calls a “constructive” and realistic approach toward Russia.
Under the leadership of his party, Smer–Social Democracy, Bratislava has reduced military aid to Kyiv and pledged to veto any new EU sanctions that could harm Slovakia’s economy. Fico has visited Moscow twice since December to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, drawing criticism from both the EU and NATO, of which Slovakia has also been a member since 2004.
“Europe needs Russia and Russia needs Europe,” he said in a video message last week, commenting on his visit to Moscow earlier this month to attend the Russian Victory Day celebrations. His trip was hindered at the time as neighboring EU member states decided to close their airspace to the Slovak prime minister’s plane.
Published by Kosmodromio.gr. Translated by Christian Haccuria
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