Can Germany make Europe pay more for Ukraine? | Berlin Briefing Podcast

Germany's push for more European aid for Ukraine is triggering a backlash. In this episode of Berlin Briefing, DW's Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner discusses charges of “blackmail” against Chancellor Friedrich Merz by Slovak PM Fico, together with Nina Haase, DW's Chief Political Correspondent, Max Hofmann, Head of DW Berlin Bureau, and Teri Schultz, DW Correspondent in Brussels.
They unpack the battle over the EU's next seven-year budget, and why the debate reveals deeper divisions over Ukraine, defense spending, and Europe's future security.
Is Chancellor Merz stepping into a much-needed leadership role in Europe, or is Berlin just throwing its weight around?

#dwgermanpolitics #berlinbriefing

Chapter Breakdown
0:00 The blackmail accusation
2:46 Germany's Ukraine funding
6:00 Political pressure in Berlin
9:46 EU budget and member friction
12:23 Energy and security tensions
15:47 Defining blackmail in the EU
20:25 A shifting German strategy
24:02 Burden sharing among allies
28:27 Looking to the future

More info regarding support for Ukraine:

Ukraine Support Tracker - A Database of Military, Financial and Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine:
https://www.kielinstitut.de/research/topics/war-against-ukraine/ukraine-support-tracker/

Germany: https://www.bundesregierung.de/resource/blob/975228/2423058/638f561df075bd77954cdcf309270231/2026-04-24-ukraine-unterstuetzung-data.pdf?download=1

Multiannual financial framework:
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/factsheets/en/sheet/29/multiannual-financial-framework
https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/eu-budget-2028-2034_en

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