Taoiseach to join 'Coalition of the Willing' meeting as Ukraine celebrates independence day

PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY is hosting a meeting of Ukraine’s European allies in Kyiv today while the country celebrates its independence day, even as the war with Russia continues to escalate. 

The meeting of the group dubbed the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ will be jointly chaired by the leaders of Britain, France and Germany.

UK prime minister Andy Burnham will be in Kyiv for his first international trip since taking office, and several other leaders are expected to join remotely.

One of those joining online will be Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who said ahead of the meeting that “Ukraine continues to demonstrate tremendous resilience and courage in the face of relentless Russian attacks”.

“I strongly condemn these actions which have led to significant loss of life and risk further humanitarian crises and call on Russia to end its war.”

He said that during today’s meeting he would reaffirm Irish support for Ukraine, including by continuing to support its joining the European Union while Ireland holds the presidency of the bloc. 

He also said Ireland would use the EU presidency to “increase pressure on Russia through robust sanctions, build consensus to ensure that Ukraine has the support it needs and work towards achieving a just and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine”.

EU Council president António Costa is also due in Kyiv today for the talks.

Missile deficit 

The EU said today it had released another €6.1 billion in military aid for Ukraine to boost its air defences against increasingly deadly Russian missile attacks.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was reaffirming it “unfaltering support” for Ukraine.

“Today, we approved €6.1 billion for the air and missile defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radars that Ukraine urgently needs,” von der Leyen said on X.

“With 376 missile strikes recorded in July alone, reinforcing Ukraine’s defences has become increasingly urgent,” the EU commission said in a separate statement.

The finance is part of a €90 billion loan, including €60 billion in military aid, that the EU has said will go to Ukraine. Some €16 billion has already been allocated and €8.5 billion sent to Kyiv.

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Burnham is set to announce that the British government is authorising defence firm MBDA to release classified information needed to help Ukraine and France set up local production of the long-range SCALP missile.

“Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve,” Burnham said in a statement before his arrival in Kyiv.

“We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace.”

On Saturday, French president Emmanuel Macron pledged to deliver new interceptor missiles.

“It is crucial to provide Ukraine with all the necessary means to defend its skies and thwart this aggression,” Macron wrote on X.

Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy revealed the extent of Ukraine’s missile deficit, releasing usually closely guarded numbers.

He said deliveries of crucial US-made Patriot interceptors had halved since 2023.

“Over the entire of 2023, Ukraine received 675 missiles, and over all of 2025, 364, even though Russian missile strikes have increased,” Zelenskyy said.

“For 2026, as currently projected, it is 264,” he added, saying Ukraine was seeking a package of at least 300 for the upcoming winter.

During Zelenskyy’s last visit to Washington, president Donald Trump said the US would be providing Ukraine with licences to build its own Patriot missiles.

He has since walked back that promise, saying: “We have not agreed to that.” 

“We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology.”

With reporting from AFP