UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to use a European Political Community summit in Armenia to advance discussions on closer cooperation with the European Union, with a particular focus on the EU’s €90bn loan to Ukraine and broader defence integration.
According to reports, Britain is set to enter talks to join the EU-backed Ukraine loan scheme, which is designed to cover around two-thirds of Ukraine’s needs over the next two years, with most funding directed toward military support.
Starmer is expected to raise the issue with French president Emmanuel Macron and other EU leaders as part of a broader push to deepen post-Brexit ties. He has argued that closer cooperation is necessary in light of rising global instability and increased pressure from the United States for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence.
“When the UK and the European Union work together, we all reap the benefits—and in these volatile times we need to go further and faster on defence to keep people safe,” Starmer said.
The prime minister has also suggested that deeper alignment with EU defence and economic structures could follow, including discussions on regulatory cooperation and market access. In exchange for participation in the Ukraine loan scheme, Britain could gain access to significant defence procurement opportunities.
The EPC summit brings together more than 40 European leaders and includes Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
