France gathers Ukraine's allies to boost resistance to Russia

Macron will be joined by co-chairs German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and, for the first time, the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the Élysée Palace said in a statement on Friday.

"This meeting, which will be held symbolically on the 35th anniversary of the celebration of Ukraine's independence, will be an opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering support for the Ukrainian people and their fight to preserve sovereignty and independence," the French presidency said.

On Saturday, Macron promised to ramp up support for Ukraine in the wake of a deadly Russian drone strike on a shopping centre in the east of the country.

It includes sending interceptor missiles crucial for shooting down ballistic missiles, with which Russia has been pounding Ukrainian cities in near nightly attacks.

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Critical missiles

For weeks, Russia has intensified its attacks on Kyiv and other urban areas.

The bombardments have helped drive the civilian death toll in Ukraine in 2026 to its highest level since the first months of the war, according to the United Nations.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky last week urged a global response to Moscow's "escalation" of the four-year conflict. Smoke rises over Kyiv during a Russian drone strike, on 20 August 2026.

Kyiv has repeatedly appealed to its allies for additional support, notably US-made Patriot air defence interceptors – the only weapon it possesses capable of shooting down ballistic missiles.

Ukraine is critically short of equipment needed to deploy the systems. It is also awaiting delivery of a new missile defence system developed by France and Italy, which is not expected to arrive before next year.

After a lengthy phone call with Macron on Saturday, Zelensky said the French president had indicated he was willing to intercede on Ukraine's behalf with allies who had stocks of Patriot interceptors.

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International pressure

According to the French presidency's statement, the Coalition of the Willing is set to reaffirm "their determination to step up pressure on Russia" and will continue coordinating on measures to reduce the resources available to it to fund its war effort, "particularly by combating the shadow fleet".

Russia's so-called shadow fleet is a network of vessels with opaque ownership and insurance, used by Moscow to evade oil sanctions imposed after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Leaders at Monday's meeting will also continue work on security guarantees, with the aim of helping to establish "a just, robust, and lasting peace in Ukraine", the statement said.

Around 10 leaders including European Council chief Antonio Costa will be in Kyiv for the coalition meeting, according to an EU official, while NATO announced that its deputy secretary-general Radmila Shekerinska would take part remotely.

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Diplomacy stalls

The Coalition of the Willing was launched by France and the United Kingdom to provide military support to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Representatives of the 37 coalition members – including Zelensky – last met in Paris in July. The allies announced more air defence support for Kyiv, as well as exercises of the force to be deployed after a ceasefire in efforts to increase pressure on Russia to end the war.

Diplomatic efforts have so far failed to move the two sides towards a deal, with Russia demanding sweeping territorial and political concessions from Kyiv.

Zelensky has ruled out agreeing to those terms, viewing it as a capitulation that would leave his country dangerously exposed to another Russian attack.

Meanwhile diplomacy has stalled with the United States, which had brokered several rounds of direct talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

(with newswires)