Let $T$ be an abelian group and $\lambda$ an uncountable regular cardinal. The question of whether there is a $\lambda$-universal group $U$ among all torsion-free abelian groups $G$ of cardinality less than or equal to $\lambda$ satisfying $\Ext\left(G,T\right)=0$ is considered. $U$ is said to be $\lambda$-universal for $T$ if, whenever a torsion-free abelian group $G$ of cardinality at most $\lambda$ satisfies $\Ext\left(G,T\right)=0$, there is an embedding of $G$ into $U$. For large classes of abelian groups $T$ and cardinals $\lambda$, it is shown that the answer is consistently no, that is to say, there is a model of ZFC in which, for pairs T and $\lambda$, there is no universal group. In particular, for $T$ torsion, this solves a problem by Kulikov.