Ukraine’s Allies Gather in Kyiv With Storm Shadow Technology and 300 Patriot Missiles on the Agenda

Aug 24, 2026 20:48

6 min read

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Daria Luhova

Journalist

The Coalition of the Willing is a group of more than 30 countries that support Ukraine and are working together on security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire. The UK and France have been leading the initiative since its creation in 2025.

Today’s meeting was the third gathering of the coalition held in Kyiv. European Council President António Costa, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden attended in person. Other participants, including representatives of NATO, Türkiye, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, joined online.

The meeting was co-chaired by UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Macron joined remotely.

For Burnham, the meeting marked both his first visit to Kyiv and his first foreign trip as UK prime minister.

The meeting began with a plenary session featuring Burnham, Macron and Zelenskyy.

UK and France to help Ukraine produce long-range missiles

One of the key announcements came from Burnham, who said the UK would allow the release of classified information on British components used in the French-British SCALP/Storm Shadow missile system.

“The UK was the first to gift long-range weapons to Ukraine back in 2023. Volodymyr has now asked that we share our Storm Shadow technology so that Ukraine can build these capabilities themselves. I am pleased to confirm today that I have approved that request.”

Burnham also called on British industry to support Project FREYJA, a joint initiative by Ukraine and nine European partners to develop ballistic-missile-defense capabilities. 

Burnham calls for tougher sanctions on Russia and shadow fleet crackdown

Burnham also called for stronger economic pressure on Russia, particularly on its energy revenues.

He said Russia was already struggling to finance the war despite high oil prices, pointing to falling energy revenues and a record budget deficit. He called for further measures targeting Russian oil and LNG exports and the so-called shadow fleet, which is used to circumvent sanctions and transport Russian oil.

“In order to speed up Putin's realisation that he cannot win this war, Russia needs to feel the pressure.”

Burnham also urged European countries to continue coordinated action against the shadow fleet and called on partners to support further US economic measures against Russia.

He also said the message to Moscow should be that Ukraine would not be forced to give up territory that Russia had failed to capture on the battlefield.

Macron calls for faster air defense deliveries to Ukraine

Macron focused on air defense and the need to speed up weapons deliveries to Ukraine ahead of another winter of Russian missile and drone attacks.

“We had a two-hour discussion two days ago with Volodymyr [Zelenskyy],” he said. “So I don't want to be longer here, but we will accelerate on the French side everything we have available.”

Macron also turned to Russia’s shadow fleet, calling for further action against the vessels Moscow uses to circumvent restrictions.

“And we must double down our efforts regarding sanctions and restrictive measures and strengthen our coordination while avoiding any risk of escalation, obviously.”

He proposed holding a separate ministerial meeting in the coming weeks focused specifically on the shadow fleet. Sanctions and Ukrainian attacks were affecting Russia’s energy trade, he said.

“Till recently, it never existed because Russia was an exporter,” he said. “But now, because of what we are doing, Russia is importing.”

Ukraine needs 300 Patriot missiles for winter

Zelenskyy again focused on Ukraine’s air-defense needs ahead of winter. He said Ukraine needs at least 300 Patriot missiles to protect its cities during the coming months.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry had already used funds that had originally been budgeted for the end of the year, Zelenskyy said. The country now faces a $27 billion defense funding gap.

He urged partners to continue working with Ukraine on the issue through bilateral talks and other mechanisms.

European leaders reaffirm support for Ukraine

At a press conference after the meeting, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden stressed that the coalition’s members see Ukraine’s security as directly linked to the security of their own countries.

“We are more than 30 countries that share the same view that if Ukraine is safe and independent, we are all safe and independent,” he said. “If Ukraine loses, then others will be the target. That is why we need to support, and we—my country—like the other colleagues around this table, we will continue to support Ukraine.”

Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard also stressed the importance of Ukraine’s future integration with Europe and the alliance.

“We really need Ukraine on our side,” she said. “Because Ukraine is not only providing security for themselves, but also for the whole of Europe. EU membership is the best security guarantee there is, but also NATO membership—we would mean a security for the rest of NATO and a significant deterrence of Russia. Sweden will continue to make sure that all of this happens.”

Ukraine secures new air defense, drone, and financial support

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had received additional military and energy support from its partners. He thanked Finnish President Alexander Stubb for additional air-defense assistance and other partners for new funding for drones.

Air defense remains a priority, with partners working on two tracks: purchasing additional Patriot systems and missiles through existing mechanisms and accelerating Project FREYJA.

European partners are also preparing a new €6.1 billion ($7.1 billion) tranche of financial support for Ukraine. The European Commission has approved the funds for air and missile defense systems, missiles, ammunition and radars that Ukraine urgently needs.

The leaders said support for Ukraine would continue, with air defense, weapons production, energy security, and financial assistance remaining among the coalition’s priorities.

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