Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's drive to shore up international support and secure additional air defenses continues on August 24, as the so-called Coalition of the Willing meets to discuss ways of increasing pressure on Russia to halt its invasion, months ahead of another likely brutal winter.

The summit — with some leaders attending in person in Kyiv and others joining by video conference — takes place on the day Ukraine celebrates the 35th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union, and comes a day after a grouping of Baltic and Nordic nations gathered in the Ukrainian capital in a show of support.

The Coalition of the Willing, led by London and Paris, is an informal grouping of some 34 countries supporting Ukraine. No US representative was identified as a participant in the upcoming meeting.

French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham will co-chair the meeting, which will focus on continued military support for Ukraine, air defense, and longer-term security arrangements. Both Macron and NATO Deputy Secretary-General Radmila Sekerinska will join the summit remotely via video link.

Burnham's office said the new UK leader will arrive in Kyiv on August 24, his first international visit since taking office a month ago, "to reiterate the UK's unwavering commitment to Ukraine." The statement added that Britain had "agreed that defense firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine."

Ahead of the event, Zelenskyy stressed the urgency of securing European funding for Ukraine's defense — especially against Russia's deadly ballistic missiles — and called on the European Parliament to approve the legislation needed to unlock the money. That funding remains central to Kyiv's effort to keep its military supplied as the war grinds on and as Western partners weigh how to sustain support over the longer term.

"We are supposed to receive 30 billion euros in European funding.... It is tied to the adoption of the relevant legislation," he said. "It is very important here that parliament works — the entire parliament, including the opposition. Because [this money is] needed for the defense of the entire country."

Baltic-Nordic Support

Leaders from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway convened in the Ukrainian capital on August 23, with other senior representatives from partner countries also in attendance.

The prime minister of Norway, one of the wealthier nations of the group, pledged major assistance for Ukraine next year following a large allotment from his government in 2026.

"Norway's support to Ukraine next year will be at the level of this year: $9 billion, a record high," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store told reporters in Kyiv. The majority of the support will go to Ukraine's military, the Norwegian government said.

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, who co-chaired the summit with Zelenskyy, said Ukraine needs continued military support.

"Ukraine must receive everything it needs to defend itself and resist Russian aggression. First and foremost, this means more air defense, more ammunition, and greater investment in Ukraine's defense industry. At the same time, we must increase pressure on Russia, strengthen sanctions, and close the loopholes Russia uses to evade them," Michal said.

Russia's full-scale invasion, launched in February 2022, has caused major destruction to the Ukrainian economy, blasting large portions of cities large and small, killing thousands of civilians, and forcing millions of others to flee their homes. The continuing pressure to expand air defenses underscores how Ukraine's front-line needs now overlap with protection of power grids, cities, and other civilian infrastructure ahead of the winter months.

Without providing details, Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian military has a 27 billion deficit and urged the European Union to speedily deliver the promised 90 billion euro (105 billion) loan to cover the 2026 gap.

Ukraine has received tens of billions of dollars in economic and military aid from Europe and the United States since Russia's invasion, but supporters worry about possible assistance fatigue among Western partners.

Seeking US Aid

With further assistance from the White House uncertain, Zelenskyy held talks with US Senators Richard Blumenthal (Democrat) and James Lankford (Republican) in Kyiv during a National Prayer Breakfast on August 23.

Zelenskyy thanked Washington for its "unwavering bipartisan and bicameral support" and said efforts were continuing in both chambers of Congress to increase pressure on Russia, including through the Lindsey Graham sanctions bill targeting Russia and Iran.

As Russia continued its missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, Zelenskyy said he briefed the senators on "Russia's ongoing terror with ballistic missiles," stressing the importance of giving Kyiv the capabilities to counter the attacks. He said implementing a decision to grant licenses from the US for the production of Patriot systems "could significantly help."

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces on August 23 launched a massive barrage of 127 strike drones across the country overnight.

Zelenskyy warned that Russia is seeking to sharply expand its ballistic-missile production.

"I believe that Russia may have up to 1,300 ballistic missiles a year. Now they have 600-630.... They can have about 100 ballistic missiles per month. But now they don't have that yet," he said.

The figures have not been independently verified.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working to weaken Russia's military industry, including through strikes on military targets and other measures aimed at reducing ballistic-missile production.

Early on August 24, a Russian e-commerce retailer said its logistics hub in Krasnodar had been hit by Ukrainian drones and set ablaze. The company said there were no casualties.

On August 22, Kyiv's forces hit an Ozon warehouse in Samara, expanding their attacks on the sector after weeks of strikes on facilities belonging to Russian online retail giant Wildberries.

By RFE/RL, via OilPrice.com