Izvestia reported that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he will call on member states of the European Union (EU) to approve the suspension of the bloc's fund allocation to Slovakia and Hungary if they continue to deviate from the common foreign policy, especially on issues related to sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine.
Speaking at the WDR Europaforum, Prime Minister Merz affirmed that any member country that violates the rule of law could be sued and face the risk of withdrawing funding from the EU.
Mr. Merz warned that the possibility of direct confrontation between Hungary, Slovakia and the rest of the EU is entirely possible if there are no more drastic measures.
The German Chancellor affirmed: It is impossible to let the decisions of the entire EU be influenced by a small minority group. There needs to be clearer words and even stronger confrontations.
According to RT, Mr. Merz's statement was made in the context of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban long-time criticized the EU leadership, saying that the West's continued financial and military aid to Kiev only prolonged the conflict without bringing about clear progress.
Responding to the threat from Berlin, Prime Minister Fico completely rejected it, calling it unacceptable and a violation of the EU's democratic values.
Speaking to the press on May 27 during his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Fico frankly affirmed that democracy in Europe will come to an end if someone wants to impose a policy that only allows the existence of one opinion.
Since returning to power in 2023, Mr. Fico has pursued what he calls a build-and-use approach and applied it to Russia.
The Slovakian government under him has cut military aid to Ukraine and pledged to deny any new EU sanctions that could harm the domestic economy.
Fico has also visited Moscow twice to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin since December, despite criticism from the EU and NATO.
Europe needs Russia, and Russia also needs Europe, Mr. Fico said in a video message recorded after a visit to Moscow on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day on May 9.
