Leaders of the "Coalition of the Willing," meeting in Kyiv and via video conference on Monday to mark the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence, expressed a unified position on continuing support for Ukraine’s fight to defend its sovereignty, freedom and territorial integrity.
"The leaders condemned Russia’s systematic and escalating strikes against Ukraine’s cities, critical infrastructure and civilians, causing the highest number of civilian casualties since the beginning of the full scale invasion in 2022, and damaging a children’s hospital in Kyiv the previous week. They also condemned Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s cultural heritage sites, which form an integral part of Ukraine’s national identity, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra," a joint statement published on the British government’s website said on Monday.
They said they intend to increase military support for Ukraine, primarily by strengthening its air defense, expanding cooperation with its defense industry and sharing relevant technology, including through the Missile Defense Coalition, as well as by tightening sanctions against Russia’s military-industrial complex and those who support it.
" Leaders also agreed on the urgency of providing immediate assistance for Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of the upcoming winter, including through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and provision of specialist equipment. They emphasised the need to continue to support Ukraine’s economic resilience in the face of Russia’s intensified attempts to renew their maritime blockade on Ukraine’s ports," the document said.
The coalition’s state leaders — British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz — agreed to continue constraining Russia’s military resources through additional sanctions, other economic measures, and efforts to counter sanctions evasion and the aggressor state’s "shadow fleet."
They praised President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s continued readiness to begin constructive peace negotiations aimed at achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, and again called on Russia to agree to a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire, starting along the line of contact.
"The Coalition would continue to prepare the Multinational-Force Ukraine to deploy once a credible cessation of hostilities was in place, as part of a wider set of robust politically and legally binding security guarantees to ensure Ukraine’s future security and prosperity once a ceasefire enters into force," the joint statement said.
