European leaders gather in Kyiv on 35th Independence Day as UK shares missile data

European leaders assemble in Kyiv

Ukraine observed the 35th anniversary of its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union on 24 August 2026. Several European heads of state and government traveled to Kyiv to attend events and participate in a summit of the coalition supporting Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met the arriving delegations at the capital's railway station on Monday morning. The visiting officials included UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, European Council President António Costa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Estonian President Alar Karis, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda. Mass public celebrations were cancelled because of the ongoing war, and official itineraries remained unpublished for security reasons.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a national address from Kyiv, reflecting on the country's collective defense and addressing the Russian leadership directly.

It is the power of a shared circle: mutual support, no doubt about who is standing next to you, and faith in all Ukrainians. And as long as the enemy does not break our circle, Ukraine will not fall. It will win its peace. And it will manage.

Defense commitments and coalition talks

The visit coincided with a meeting of the coalition of nations supporting Ukraine, led jointly by Prime Minister Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with other leaders attending remotely, including Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. On his first foreign trip as prime minister, Burnham announced that the British government authorized defense contractor MBDA to supply Ukraine with classified technical data. The data covers British components for long-range SCALP missiles, enabling their assembly inside Ukrainian production facilities. Burnham also urged partner nations to accelerate supplies of Patriot air defense interceptor missiles.

Addressing Ukrainian officials in Kyiv, Burnham pledged continued British assistance despite recent warnings issued by the Russian embassy in London.

The Ukrainian people should have no doubt: Great Britain stands with you today and will support you for as long as necessary. The friendship between our countries will last much longer than Russia's illegal war.

Russian strikes in Chernihiv

While diplomatic meetings took place in the capital, Russian forces conducted three strikes against the northern city of Chernihiv, situated under 150 kilometres from Kyiv. The bombardment struck a multi-story residential apartment block, injuring 18 civilians. The attack took place as air raid alerts sounded across multiple regions during the national holiday.

Commemorations across Polish cities

Official and community events marked the Ukrainian holiday in neighbouring Poland, which hosts a large Ukrainian population. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk published an address on social media in Polish, Ukrainian, and English, expressing Polish solidarity with the Ukrainian public. In Warsaw, Polish Justice Minister and Prosecutor General Waldemar Żurek addressed a gathering, emphasizing European security and ongoing judicial actions. Żurek stated that over 100 specialized prosecutors had been designated across Poland since February 2026 to investigate and prosecute hate crimes targeting Ukrainians.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you victory above all. I also wish that you enter NATO and the European Union. I would like to thank the boys and girls who sit in the trenches today for their heroism and sacrifice.

In Lublin, Ukrainian Consul General Roman Szepeliak joined Polish officials to display the flags of both countries, describing the city as a second home for displaced citizens.