The European Union has approved a landmark €150 billion (nearly $170 billion) Defense Industrial Readiness Loan Instrument, known as SAFE, aimed at bolstering the bloc’s defense sector in the face of rising geopolitical threats.
The announcement was made by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who hailed the initiative as both "important and urgent" for the security of Europe and Ukraine alike. Writing on X, Shmyhal emphasized that the agreement will grant Ukrainian defense companies access to EU supply chains and joint procurement efforts, strengthening Kyiv’s defense capabilities while contributing to Europe’s collective security.
“We are stronger together,” Shmyhal said, extending his gratitude to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Poland, and other EU partners for their ongoing support.
The SAFE loan instrument is designed to enhance industrial capacity across the EU amid growing defense demands driven by Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine and broader regional instability. While the European Commission has not yet detailed a formal rollout schedule, the fund is expected to mobilize strategic investments into defense production, innovation, and infrastructure.
By naming Ukraine a partner in this initiative, the EU further reinforces Kyiv’s trajectory toward deeper Euro-Atlantic integration, not only in diplomacy and trade but now in the strategic defense domain. The move also signals Europe’s long-term commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and security, as the country remains on the frontlines of a major conflict reshaping European defense posture.
SAFE represents one of the largest collective defense funding efforts in EU history and reflects a broader shift in European policy toward rearmament and industrial resilience in the face of evolving security threats.
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EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’s planned visits to Yerevan and Baku framed the 8th European Political Community summit on 4 May, as European leaders focused on fragile South Caucasus peace efforts and rising geopolitical tensions.
European leaders gathered in Yerevan on 4–5 May for the European Political Community (EPC) summit and the first EU–Armenia summit, placing the South Caucasus and its fragile peace process at the centre of regional diplomacy.
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 European Commission approved the deployment of a new mission to Armenia on 21 April that would share European experience in handling hybrid threats.
A 77-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman were killed on Monday (4 May), after a man drove a car into a crowd on a pedestrianised street in the the eastern German city of Leipzig, authorities said.
Iran warned Armerican forces on Monday (4 May) not to enter the Strait of Hormuz, after the U.S. said it had launched a mission to try and reopen the sea passage. Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Minister said there was no military solution to the Middle East conflict.
The United Arab Emirate said it was dealing with missile and drone attacks from Iran for the second day in a row on Tuesday (5 May), despite denials from authorities in Tehran who threatened a "crushing response" if the UAE retaliated.
Medics are working to evacuate two people with symptoms of the deadly respiratory illness, hantavirus, from a luxury cruise ship being held off West Africa, after three people died and several others fell ill, officials have said.
The steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art were transformed once again into the world's most prestigious runway for the 2026 Met Gala. This year’s theme, 'Costume Art,' invited guests to explore the intersection of nature, history, and the surreal under the official dress code 'Fashion Is Art'.
A Russian overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s gas production facilities has killed five people, including two rescue workers, Ukrainian officials said, as Kyiv and Moscow exchanged competing ceasefire proposals.
Sudan’s armed forces have accused the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia of carrying out a drone attack targeting Khartoum airport, as a renewed wave of strikes shattered months of relative calm in the capital nearly three years into the civil war.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 5th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Monday (4 May) that meteorological monitoring equipment at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in south-eastern Ukraine had been damaged by a drone.
A blast at a fireworks factory in China's Hunan province has killed dozens of people and injured more than 60, prompting President Xi Jinping to call for a thorough investigation, state media reported on Tuesday.
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