EU, UK step up military aid as Ukraine celebrates Independence Day

European leaders including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham gathered in Kiev to mark 35 years of Ukrainian independence, as the EU and Britain pledged fresh military support for the country in its defence against Rusia, reported dpa.

European Council President António Costa was among those travelling to Kiev as Brussels approved a tranche of €6.1 billion for air defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radar systems.

The aid is part of the EU's €90 billion support loan for Ukraine for the years 2026 and 2027 in its defence against the Russian invasion.

Ahead of his first international trip, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that the UK would help Ukraine produce long-range Scalp missiles by sharing blueprints for its British components with Kiev.

The weapons are the French-produced versions of the UK's Storm Shadow, which Ukraine has been using to hit targets in Russia, and Kiev and Paris are looking to set up local assembly lines to produce them in the country.

Moscow criticized the plans, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accusing London of "adding fuel to the fire" of the war.

Ukraine's Independence Day commemorates the declaration of independence from the Soviet Union, adopted on August 24, 1991.

Burnham: Ukraine keeps 'flame of European freedom' alive

In an address outside Saint Sophia Cathedral alongside Zelensky and Costa, Burnham praised the "sheer strength" of the Ukrainian people and described their country as "Europe's protector, not a drain on our security but the front line in keeping Europe safe."

Burnham went on to compare Ukraine's resistance to Russia to the UK's fight with Nazi Germany, saying: "My nation kept the flame of European freedom alive in the 20th century, you hold that flame in the 21st."

"We will continue to provide as much support as necessary, for as long as necessary," said Costa.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also welcomed the leaders of Luxembourg, Latvia, Moldova, Lithuania, Finland and Estonia to the Independence Day celebrations.

A minute's silence was observed to commemorate the many victims of Russia's full-scale invasion, which has been ongoing for four and a half years.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who did not travel to Kiev, paid tribute to the courage of the Ukrainian population in a video shared on X.

"With impressive courage, Ukrainians have been defending the independence of their country for years against the brutal Russian war," Merz said.

"Today, on this important day, one thing applies above all: we stand firmly by Ukraine's side," the chancellor said. Ukrainians are showing the entire world what it meant to stand up for freedom and for a just peace, he added.

A video conference of the so-called Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries supporting Ukraine against Russia, was also held.

Zelensky praised resilience despite difficulties

In an address to the nation, Zelensky issued a direct challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Moscow must be forced to its knees through the unity of the international community.

"In all his plans for Ukraine, Putin got the most important thing wrong," Zelensky said, explaining that Russia has underestimated the Ukrainian people.

Putin wanted to make Russia great, Zelensky said, but today there are long queues at petrol stations in the country while his soldiers are being turned into "fertilizer" on the battlefield by Kiev's army.

Zelensky, however, acknowledged that the situation was "really, very difficult for all of us," but he again rejected Russia's demand for Ukraine to cede the Donetsk region.

Nobody believes that doing so would end the war, Zelensky said. "We do not trust them."

Ukraine has become a different country and will give nothing away. The country is "not a victim, but a fighter."