French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will co-chair a coalition meeting on Monday aimed at increasing support for Ukraine and increasing pressure on Russia.
European leaders are pledging more aid to Kiev, days after a Russian drone attack on a crowded shopping mall in Krivy Riv killed at least 16 people.
The hybrid meeting, which will also be attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, follows Macron’s announcement that France will provide Kiev with additional interceptor missiles.
Mr Burnham is in Kyiv on Monday, his first overseas trip as prime minister, and is expected to meet Mr Zelenskiy after Britain agreed to allow defense company MBDA to release classified information about British parts for the SCALP long-range missile in support of Ukraine’s regional parliaments.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Britain was now participating in the war on Ukraine’s side and accused Burnham’s government of obstructing efforts towards a final peace.
The hybrid conference on Monday, which marks Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, will consider measures aimed at increasing support for Kiev, reducing Russia’s resources to continue the war effort and combating Moscow’s shadow fleet.
This follows the inaugural meeting of the Joint Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition held in Paris on July 13th.
At least 16 civilians were killed and 128 injured in Friday’s attack on a shopping mall in central Ukraine’s Kryvy Rikh, Ukrainian authorities and United Nations monitors said. Further attacks by Russia and Ukraine followed.
“By systematically targeting civilians and opting for intimidation and escalation, Russia is likely trying to project its strength, but most of all makes clear that it recognizes its weakness,” Macron wrote in a post on X Saturday announcing the delivery of the interceptor missiles.
“In this context, it is extremely important to provide Ukraine with all the necessary means to protect its skies and deter aggression. It is essential that all countries with capabilities at their disposal also join this effort.”
