Ukraine War: Western Leaders Meet in Kyiv to Discuss Air Defence on Independence Day
Western leaders including the new UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham gathered in Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day for a ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting focused on boosting air defence supplies as Russian missile and drone attacks escalate in the Ukraine war. [1]
Western Leaders Convene in Kyiv
The meeting was jointly chaired by the leaders of the UK, France and Germany, with most participating by video call and a few in person including Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa. [1] UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham attended in Kyiv for his first foreign trip since assuming office last month. [1] European Council President Antonio Costa joined the in-person attendees along with Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Estonian President Alar Karis. [2] The gathering occurred on Ukraine’s Independence Day and followed a day after the country marked National Flag Day. [1] Kyiv pressed allies for additional interceptor missiles amid weeks of Russian missile and drone attacks that have driven record numbers of the capital’s residents to metro stations and basements. [1]
Zelenskyy’s Appeal for Air Defence Boost
Zelenskyy highlighted that Patriot interceptor deliveries have halved since 2023, with Ukraine receiving 675 in 2023, 364 so far in 2025, and a projected 264 in 2026, while seeking at least 300 for the coming winter. [1] Before the meeting the president stated that over the entire of 2023 Ukraine received 675 missiles, and over all of 2025 364, even though Russian missile strikes have increased. [1] He added that for 2026 as currently projected the figure is 264 and said Ukraine was seeking a package of at least 300 for the upcoming winter. [1] Ukraine’s allies have pledged to boost the country’s depleted air defences in the face of Russia’s growing missile attacks. [1]
Escalating Russian Air Attacks
Recent Russian attacks killed at least two women and wounded five in a drone strike on an electric train in Kharkiv region, plus three killed and eight injured on the outskirts of Kharkiv city; Russian authorities reported two children killed and nine wounded by drone debris in Krasnodar. [1] At least two women were killed and five people wounded when a Russian drone hit an electric train in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region on Sunday, regional officials said. [1] An attack on the outskirts of Kharkiv city killed three people and injured eight. [1] Russian authorities said two children were killed and nine other people were wounded, including seven minors, when drone debris hit a private childcare centre in Krasnodar on Monday. [1] Debris also fell on apartment buildings and set warehouses alight in the city, Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said. [1] Ukraine has conducted drone strikes on Russian logistics and industrial sites including Wildberries and Ozon warehouses, prompting evacuations and fires in southern Russia. [1] Ozon reported fires early on Monday at its warehouses in Krasnodar and Makhachkala, both in southern Russia, adding that sites in Adygeysk and Nevinnomyssk were evacuated due to threats of drone attack. [1]
Zelenskyy’s Independence Day Address
Zelenskyy addressed the nation stressing Ukraine’s defence industry advances including ground robotic systems, naval drones and long-range strikes, and called for Flamingo missiles to be mass-produced to target Russia in winter. [4] In his address President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine today is not a victim but a fighter, adding that Moscow should not be allowed to seize the initiative and deceive Europe and the world. [2] He told Ukrainian soldiers that they are not giving up Donbas, not giving up Ukraine and are the best defenders and the best army in Europe. [2] Zelensky stressed that in all his plans for Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin got the most important thing wrong because the enemy counted resources, stockpiles and equipment but failed to take into account the key factor of Ukraine’s people. [2] The president highlighted the key role of Ukraine’s defence industry in defending the country’s independence and expressed hope that domestically produced Flamingo missiles will play an important role in the winter military confrontation with Russia. [4] He said tens of thousands of ground robotic systems are carrying out extremely dangerous missions at the front and have already saved thousands of soldiers, while naval drones have left the enemy fleet becoming scrap. [4] Zelensky added that mid-range strikes are cutting Russian logistics and long-range capabilities are cutting their profits, with thousands of deep strikes already seen in Moscow, Tuapse, Tula, Ryazan, Olenya, Omsk and dozens more places. [4]
Additional Aid Pledges and Regional Support
Ukraine’s partners were expected to announce additional aid packages on Independence Day. [2] A group of leaders from Nordic and Baltic countries met Zelenskyy in Kyiv and pledged to boost their support for Ukraine. [1] Norway said it would provide another 85 billion kroner ($9.1bn) in 2027, matching the support it gave Ukraine this year. [1] The Embassy of Ukraine in Latvia invited everyone to join in a minute’s silence on Ukraine’s Independence Day at 9.00 am in memory of the Ukrainians and Latvians who have fallen in the war. [3] The annual Sunflower Trail march in support of Ukraine took place on Monday, organised for the fifth time by the charity Tavi draugi, with participants gathering at the Freedom Monument from 5.30 pm before proceeding to Kronvalda Park. [3] Latvian Public Media in collaboration with Ziedot.lv organised the support campaign Together with Ukraine in thought and deed from 17 August to 13 September to provide Ukrainian soldiers with comprehensive rehabilitation. [3]
War Crimes Accountability Efforts
Ukraine is about to try Davor Savicic in absentia, the first Bosnian national to be charged with war crimes allegedly committed while fighting with Russian forces in 2022. [5] A preliminary hearing in Savicic’s case is due in early September. [5] Ukrainian authorities accuse Savicic of commanding a unit called The Wolves, part of an ostensibly private army known as Redut but which Radio Free Europe reported in 2023 is controlled and financed by the Russian military intelligence agency GRU. [5] On June 30 this year Savicic was charged in Borodyanka with violating the laws and customs of war, specifically crimes committed against the residents of Fedorivka, Ivankiv and surrounding areas. [5] The indictment is among 740 raised by Ukrainian prosecutors and involving alleged war crimes charges committed since February 24, 2022. [5] According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, 206 people have been convicted of war crimes as of November 2025. [5]
What to watch next: Partners are expected to announce additional aid packages on Independence Day while a preliminary hearing in the Savicic war crimes case is due in early September.
