Lead

The United Kingdom has agreed to join the European Union's 90-billion-euro defense loan program for Ukraine, according to a statement from the office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The agreement will allow UK defence companies to compete for procurement contracts funded by the loan, which is intended to provide military and budgetary support to Ukraine over 2026-2027. Separately, Britain has committed €300 million to help Ukraine field a squadron of Swedish-made Gripen E fighter jets.

Coverage comparison

All details of this story come from TASS, the Russian state news agency, which reported on the UK's participation in the EU loan, the fighter jet funding, and the EU's decision to allow Ukraine to purchase British weapons using EU funds. TASS cited official statements from the UK Prime Minister's office and European Commission representatives, as well as a Bloomberg report (which TASS referenced but did not provide directly). The reports do not contain conflicting information, but they do highlight different aspects of the same overall arrangement.

Key claims

UK joins EU defense loan

According to a statement from the UK Prime Minister's office, reported by TASS, the UK government has reached an agreement with EU leadership to participate in the 90-billion-euro Ukraine Support Loan. The statement said that through the scheme, UK defence companies will be eligible to bid for procurement contracts funded by the loan, “unlocking billions in potential investment, supporting skilled jobs across the country and strengthening the UK’s world-leading defence industrial base.” The UK's contribution to the initiative will be proportionate to the value of contracts secured by British industry.

The announcement came as Starmer participated in a summit of the Coalition of the Willing in Paris. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented on the development, writing on the social network X that the UK's membership “will give Ukraine access to a wider range of defense suppliers.”

The Ukraine Support Loan was announced in December 2025 as an initiative to provide €90 billion in financial assistance for military purposes to Ukraine in 2026-2027. Of that total, €30 billion is allocated to cover Ukraine's budgetary needs, while the remaining €60 billion is earmarked for military expenditures. The program replaced an earlier European Commission plan to use immobilized Russian assets for Kiev's military needs, which TASS described as failed.

The loan will be drawn in the form of a European loan, to be repaid by EU countries. Kiev is only obligated to repay the debt if Russia formally agrees to pay reparations in full.

EU allows Ukraine to buy British weapons

TASS reported, citing Bloomberg and European sources, that the European Union is set to allow Kiev to purchase €60 billion worth of weapons from the UK as part of the 2026-2027 European military financing program. The agency noted: “The European Union is set to allow Ukraine to purchase British weapons with the €60 billion ($69 billion) it’s loaning for defense procurement. The bloc is close to an agreement with the UK government to allow British firms to benefit from the program.”

According to the report, the European Commission requires the British government to participate in financing the Ukrainian arms purchase order every time Kiev requests permission to use European money for British weapons. A representative for the European Commission, Thomas Rainier, earlier explained that the military financing program includes a “buy European” provision, which obliges Ukraine to submit all contracts for the purchase of weapons with this money to the European Commission for approval. Only if the types of weapons needed by Kiev or their substitutes are not available in Europe can the Commission grant Ukraine the right to order them from suppliers in other countries.

UK commits €300 million for Gripen jets

In a separate development, Britain will invest €300 million to help Kiev purchase 16 Swedish-made multipurpose fighter jets, according to a press release from the office of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as reported by TASS. The funding will help Ukraine field a squadron of 16 Gripen E fighter jets by 2029. The package includes pilot and engineer training, simulators, spare parts, and other equipment needed to get the aircraft to the frontline.

TASS noted that the sum is lower than an earlier estimate from specialized defense news websites, which put the contract to deliver 16 advanced Gripen E fighter jets to Ukraine at €2.2 billion.

The announcement came as Starmer traveled to Kiev on what TASS described as his last foreign visit as British prime minister, as he is set to step down on July 20.