Leaders of Britain, France and Germany met in Kyiv on August 24 to reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine's defense, pledging to increase military support and strengthen air defenses. The meeting, attended by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marked the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence restoration.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham of Britain, President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany condemned Russia's recent strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, which they said have caused the highest civilian casualties since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. The leaders specifically cited attacks on a children's hospital in Kyiv and strikes on cultural heritage sites including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monastery.
The three countries committed to increasing military assistance to Ukraine and strengthening its air defense as an urgent priority. They also agreed to enhance cooperation with Ukraine's defense industry and share relevant technologies through the Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition.
The leaders committed to escalating sanctions against Russia's military-industrial complex and those supporting it. Sanctions and economic measures have deprived Russia of at least $495 billion since February 2022, according to the leaders' statement.
Immediate assistance for Ukraine's energy sector ahead of winter will be provided through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and provision of specialized equipment, the leaders said. They also pledged to continue supporting Ukraine's economic resilience amid Russian attempts to blockade Ukrainian ports.
The meeting also addressed a potential path to peace. The leaders commended Zelenskyy's readiness for meaningful peace talks and called on Russia to agree to "a full, immediate and unconditional ceasefire" starting from the current line of contact. They indicated readiness to deploy a multinational force to Ukraine once a credible ceasefire is established, as part of security guarantees to follow any agreement.