Ukrainian officials were scheduled to host a meeting with European allies in Kyiv on Monday, August 24, to discuss the country’s air defense capabilities. The meeting occurs on Ukraine’s Independence Day and follows recent air strikes reported by both Ukrainian and Russian authorities.
The conference, described as a “Coalition of the Willing” meeting, is set to be jointly chaired by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, with most participants expected to join via video conference. According to reports, United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham and European Council President Antonio Costa were expected to attend in person. The stated purpose of the discussions is for Ukrainian leaders to request additional interceptor missiles and other air defense supplies.
The event follows a meeting on Sunday, Ukraine’s National Flag Day, between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a group of leaders from Nordic and Baltic countries. Following that meeting, Norway’s government announced it would provide another 85 billion kroner ($9.1 billion) to Ukraine in 2027, an amount matching its support for the current year.
In the days leading up to the meeting, both Ukrainian and Russian sources reported on military activities and resulting casualties. On Sunday, officials in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region said a Russian drone strike on an electric train killed two women and wounded five other people. In a separate incident on the outskirts of Kharkiv city, officials reported an attack killed three people and injured eight.
During the same period, Russian authorities reported attacks on Russian territory. The Russian e-commerce company Ozon confirmed fires at its warehouses in Krasnodar and Makhachkala early Monday and stated that other sites were evacuated due to drone threats. In Krasnodar, Russian authorities said two children were killed and nine other people were wounded after drone debris fell on a private childcare center and apartment buildings. In the Stavropol region, Governor Vladimir Vladimirov said a drone attack on an industrial area had been repelled.
Ahead of Monday’s meeting, President Zelenskyy made public statements regarding the quantity of air defense supplies his country has received. He stated that Ukraine was supplied with 675 Patriot interceptor missiles in 2023 and 364 in 2025. Zelenskyy added that current projections for 2026 total 264 missiles and said Ukraine is seeking a package of at least 300 for the upcoming winter.
