00:01European Council President Antonio Costa has sought to reassure German Chancellor
00:07Frederick Murs after he sent a letter laying down an ultimatum linking the EU budget to
00:14financing for Ukraine by all member states. Murs' ultimatum received pushback from the
00:20leaders of Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, with Slovak Prime Minister Robert
00:26Fico calling it blackmail. Costa agreed to discuss Ukraine at an informal summit in Dublin
00:33this week, allowing Murs to raise the issue directly with other EU leaders. Murs told
00:39Costa that a commitment to provide fresh aid for Ukraine was an essential prerequisite for
00:46approving the next EU budget, with the disagreement risks creating a politically deadlock. Both the
00:52EU's long-term budget and the proposed financial support for Ukraine require unanimous approval,
00:59but the four countries want to opt out from any future loan to Ukraine.
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