On 24 August, Kyiv hosted a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing — an alliance of countries co-chaired by the United Kingdom and France, created to help Ukraine in its fight against the occupiers and to develop effective security guarantees. Leaders discussed support for Ukraine and strengthening its air defences with ballistic-missile interceptor missiles, Suspilne reports.
The meeting was held in a hybrid format: some participants met in person, while others joined online. Those who travelled in person included UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, President of the European Council António Costa, President of Finland Alexander Stubb, President of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, and Moldovan President Maia Sandu.
Burnham said that Ukraine is asking the British to share Storm Shadow missile technology so it can produce them independently.
“I have approved this request... Now we will work with Ukraine to develop these capabilities. I am also asking British industry to support the Freyja project to provide a cheaper alternative to the US Patriot systems for intercepting ballistic missiles,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron joined via video link.
“We launched the Freyja coalition on 13 July. I think it is very important that we all speed up deliveries. From the French side, we will accelerate everything we have. We will also speed up, together with colleagues, the licensing so that you can produce more of this capability,” he said.
In the autumn, the coalition countries will hold military exercises. These units are expected to become part of Ukraine’s security guarantees once peace agreements have been developed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also joined online.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the meeting that Ukraine needs at least 300 missiles for Patriot systems for the winter. Work on air defence is being carried out in two formats: the anti-ballistic Freyja project and the purchase of PAC-3 missiles funded through the PURL programme.
“Ukraine has today been supported with military aid packages,” he said.