Key facts
- European leaders are meeting in Kyiv to discuss increased military support for Ukraine, with a focus on air defense.
- The summit is co-chaired by France, Germany, and the UK, with some leaders attending in person and others remotely.
- Norway pledged $9 billion in military assistance for Ukraine for the upcoming year.
- Ukraine is seeking European funding and US licenses for Patriot systems to counter Russian missile and drone attacks.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy warned of Russia's potential to significantly expand its ballistic missile production.
European leaders convened in Kyiv on August 24 to discuss bolstering Ukraine's air defense capabilities and increasing pressure on Russia, coinciding with Ukraine's 35th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union. The summit, led by London and Paris, is part of the informal 'Coalition of the Willing' group of 34 countries supporting Ukraine, though no US representative was identified for this meeting.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on his first international visit since taking office, reiterated the UK's commitment and announced that defense firm MBDA would release classified information on UK components for the long-range SCALP missile to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of securing European funding, particularly for defense against ballistic missiles, calling on the European Parliament to approve legislation for 30 billion euros in aid.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are co-chairing the meeting, focusing on military support, air defense, and long-term security. Macron and NATO Deputy Secretary-General Radmila Sekerinska joined remotely. Earlier, leaders from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway met in Kyiv to show support, with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store pledging $9 billion in military assistance for the next year. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal stressed the need for more air defense, ammunition, and investment in Ukraine's defense industry, alongside increased sanctions pressure on Russia.
President Zelenskyy also met with US Senators Richard Blumenthal and James Lankford, briefing them on Russia's missile attacks and the importance of US support, including potential licenses for Patriot system production. He warned that Russia may significantly increase its ballistic missile production capacity. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have continued to target Russian logistics hubs, with a recent drone attack hitting an e-commerce retailer's facility in Krasnodar and a previous strike on an Ozon warehouse in Samara.