Sir Keir Starmer has said joining a £78bn (€90bn) European Union loan scheme to support Ukraine against Russia will be “very good” for relations with the bloc and create jobs in the UK.
The prime minister discussed the plan with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Armenia on Monday.
In a joint statement, the pair said the UK’s plan to join would be a “major step forward in the UK-EU defence industrial relationship” if it were to go ahead.
Ahead of the gathering, Sir Keir said talks would be aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s defences while also trying to give UK firms access to future contracts.
EU leaders last month approved the deal to lend Ukraine €90bn over the next two years after Hungary lifted its veto, with the funding described as “a matter of life and death” by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka.
Two-thirds of it will be spent on bolstering Ukraine’s defence needs while the rest will go on broader financial assistance.
Sir Keir is one of 48 heads of state and government invited to attend the EPC summit in Yerevan, Armenia.
“In relation to the EU loan that we are discussing participating in, that is very good for Ukraine, because it will give Ukraine capability that it desperately needs in year five of this conflict,” Sir Keir said as he arrived on Monday.
