May 4, 2026
UK starts talks to join EU's €90 billion loanjoin EU's €90 billion loan for Ukraine defence orders
Britain began discussions on May 4, 2026, to join the European Union's €90 billion loan to Ukraine, aiming to qualify for defence contracts funded by the loan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a summit in Armenia to advance these talks, following technical exchanges. The EU-approved loan, mainly for Ukraine's military needs against Russia's ongoing war, requires the UK to cover some interest payments proportionally to contracts it wins.
This move signals closer UK-EU defence cooperation amid concerns over reduced US support. It allows British firms to bid for orders if the UK meets criteria like its existing Security and Defence Partnership and proven aid to Ukraine. The Commission is ready to proceed quickly, enhancing flexibility for Kyiv's procurement.
- Armenia, hosting the summit in its capital Yerevan, lies at the crossroads of Europe and Asia with a history dating back over 2,500 years.
- Yerevan, Armenia's capital since 1832, is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.
- Labour's 2024 landslide victory ended 14 years of Conservative rule in the UK.
Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Violations
Russian forces continue striking Ukrainian regions like Kherson and Mykolaiv, wounding civilians including teenagers despite a US-brokered three-day truce from May 9 to 11 that both sides confirmed.
