Ukraine allies meet in Kyiv to press for air defence supplies

Ukraine hosted a meeting of its key European allies in Kyiv on Monday to press for critical air defence supplies and greater pressure on Moscow, as Russian missile and drone attacks have pushed civilian deaths to their highest levels since the first months of the 2022 invasion. The gathering of the "Coalition of the Willing" took place on Ukraine's Independence Day and was jointly chaired by the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham participated in person, marking his first international trip since taking office last month. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the talks remotely. European Council President Antonio Costa was also present in Kyiv, along with leaders from Luxembourg, Moldova, and Estonia. NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Šekerinska and Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin were among those dialling in.

The meeting came as Russia escalated its air campaign, with strikes killing more Ukrainian civilians than at any time since the early phase of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used the occasion to reveal the severity of the country's air defence deficit. He stated...