The UK is moving to join a €90 billion European Union loan scheme for Ukraine, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying the benefits outweigh the costs, as he pushes for closer ties with Europe at a summit in Armenia this week.
The proposal forms part of the government’s wider effort to strengthen defence cooperation with European partners while supporting Ukraine’s war effort. Speaking at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan on Monday (4 May), Sir Keir said the scheme would provide Ukraine with urgently needed military capability as the war enters its fifth year, while also delivering economic benefits for the UK.
He argued that joining the loan would allow British defence firms to access contracts funded through the programme, helping to support jobs at home.
The €90 billion package, approved by EU leaders last month, is expected to cover a significant portion of Ukraine’s financial and defence needs over the next two years, with most of the funding directed towards military support.
Sir Keir also used the summit to push for closer relations with the EU, describing deeper cooperation as being in the UK’s national interest. He said the benefits of working more closely with the bloc extended beyond Ukraine to defence, security and the economy.
The move comes amid growing concern among European leaders over tensions with the United States, particularly over military policy and support for Ukraine.
Sir Keir acknowledged that traditional alliances were under strain, warning that “there is more tension… than there should be” and calling for greater unity among European countries.
If negotiations succeed, the UK could contribute up to £400 million to the scheme, with funding expected to come from the government’s existing support package for Ukraine.
Ship traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait fell to its lowest level in months on Sunday after Yemen's Houthi movement attacked Saudi oil facilities...
French President Emmanuel Macron convened an interministerial crisis meeting on 26 July as wildfires spread across southwest France, with flames advan...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he intends to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly this September, dismissing...
Russian authorities said 11 people, including four children, had been killed by Ukraine in an overnight attack on a holiday camp, accusing Kyiv on Saturday of deliberately targeting civilians.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto recently offered the dismissed Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Mykhailo Federov an adviser role in Italy.
Marvel Studios used its return to San Diego Comic-Con to reveal several major projects, including a new Ghost Rider film starring Ryan Gosling and the long-awaited Black Panther 3.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Washington next week as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.
French President Emmanuel Macron convened an interministerial crisis meeting on 26 July as wildfires spread across southwest France, with flames advancing to within 15 kilometres of the city of Bordeaux.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he intends to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly this September, dismissing calls from the city's mayor that he should not be welcome.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN will submit a detailed report to the Security Council documenting what he described as Israeli violations in Syria. At the same time, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa says he is working towards a security agreement with Israel.
Two people have been killed and at least five others injured, including a child, after a shooting at the Seattle Center in Washington state during a food and music festival.
Israel has approved the legal framework for the deployment of a multinational security force in parts of the Gaza Strip outside its control, marking a significant step towards implementing a key element of U.S. President Donald Trump's stalled ceasefire proposal.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment