European leaders mark Ukraine’s 35th Independence Day as Russian invasion pushes on

KYIV, Ukraine, August 25 ------ European leaders joined President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv for celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence Day as Russia pressed on with its 4-year-old invasion of the country.

One of President Vladimir Putin’s key goals in starting a war with Russia’s neighbor in February 2022 was to place Kyiv in Moscow’s orbit. Ukrainian lawmakers voted on Aug. 24, 1991, to proclaim the country’s independence from Moscow, and a nationwide referendum later that year overwhelmingly approved it. With no significant changes on the front line for months and no apparent progress after more than a year of U.S.-led peace efforts, both countries are locked in a spiral of escalating aerial attacks that are killing civilians and smashing infrastructure.

EU leaders rally around Ukraine

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on his first overseas trip since taking office last month, joined almost a dozen other European leaders, as well as other dignitaries including European Council President Antonio Costa, in Kyiv on Monday.

“For Ukraine, independence is not an abstract idea. We defended it against all odds,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media. “In times like these, nations learn how important it is to have allies by your side.” Burnham was to co-chair a meeting of what has been dubbed the Coalition of the Willing — a group of countries helping Ukraine resist Russia's onslaught, with the leaders of France and Germany expected to join online.

Zelensky said in a speech at Kyiv’s St. Sophia Square that the presence of European leaders reflected continental fears about Russia’s wider ambitions. “We all understand that in this Russian war against us — against Ukraine — far more is being decided than the future of Ukraine and Eastern Europe,” Zelensky said, adding that foreign help was vital. “No nation in a war like this could rely solely on its own weapons," he said. "No nation could withstand attacks of such intensity without the world’s help.”

Ukraine eyes local production of French and British missile

The visiting leaders brought pledges of further military and financial support. Burnham is expected to announce that his government has agreed to allow defense company MBDA to release classified information relating to British components used in the SCALP long-range missile, according to his office. That would pave the way for France and Ukraine to advance plans for production of the weapon in Ukraine.

SCALP is the French version of the UK’s Storm Shadow missile, with both systems incorporating shared French and British technology. “Ukraine has been Europe’s protector, not a drain on our security, but the front line of keeping Europe safe,” Burnham said in a speech, adding that Kyiv and its partners “must keep up the pressure on Moscow.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin views the plan “extremely negatively.” He accused the U.K. of “taking part in this war” on Kyiv’s side. Ukraine has leaned heavily on NATO countries for help fighting Russia’s bigger army, although relations with the United States have been cooler under President Donald Trump. Russia, meanwhile, is getting help from North Korea and China.

Source: manilatimes.net