European Leaders Gathered In Kyiv To Mark The 35th Anniversary Of Ukraine's Independence

• 24.08.2026, 17:59

The allies are showing unprecedented support for Kyiv.

Nearly a dozen heads of European states and governments arrived in the Ukrainian capital, while several other leaders joined the meetings online, according to Associated Press (translation — Charter97.org website).

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham embarked on his first foreign visit to Kyiv. He was scheduled to co-chair a meeting of the so-called “coalition of the willing”—countries supporting Ukraine in its confrontation with Russia.

European leaders brought new pledges of military and financial aid, seeking to demonstrate that Kyiv continues to enjoy the support of its allies.

One of the UK’s key decisions was to authorize the defense company MBDA to disclose classified information about the British components of SCALP long-range missiles. This will allow France and Ukraine to move forward with plans to organize the production of such missiles directly on Ukrainian territory.

“In times like these, countries realize how important it is to have allies by their side,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga.

At the same time, the visit by European leaders is taking place against the backdrop of a lack of noticeable progress in the peace process. “The front line has remained virtually unchanged for several months, and more than a year of diplomatic efforts led by the U.S. has proved insufficient to end the conflict,” — AP reporters write.
Russia and Ukraine continue to launch strikes against each other’s infrastructure. Against this backdrop, the presence of European leaders in Kyiv takes on not only symbolic but also political significance, demonstrating Europe’s readiness to continue supporting Ukraine.