ISTANBUL EU member states have agreed to establish a €150 billion (nearly $170 billion) Defense Industrial Readiness Loan Instrument (SAFE) to boost the bloc’s defense sector, with Ukraine formally recognized as a partner country, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said. In a statement on X on Wednesday, Shmyhal said the decision would help integrate Ukraine into the EU’s joint defense procurement efforts and open opportunities for Ukrainian firms within European supply chains. He