Zelenskyy hopes next Coalition of the Willing meeting will take place in Sept

President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the countries present during the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Kyiv, marking Ukraine's Independence Day. He praised Prime Minister Andy and emphasized that this meeting, the first of its kind, symbolizes strong support for Ukraine. The British prime minister's mention of Storm Shadows missiles was met with appreciation, as it would significantly enhance Ukraine's army.

Zelenskyy stressed that the Coalition brings together countries not only to discuss but also to act and build real security together, as Russia continues its attacks and ballistic missile launches. The meeting aimed to secure a winter package of air defense, specifically 300 Patriot missiles, to protect Ukraine during the harsh winter months, with each missile saving lives.

Additionally, the funding gap of 27 billion needed to be addressed, as the Ministry of Defense had used funds intended for the year's end at the beginning of the year. Zelenskyy proposed bringing forward part of the European loan funding planned for next year to cover this gap. He also highlighted the importance of using Russian sovereign assets frozen in various jurisdictions to counter Russia's war efforts.

Another critical topic was the unblocking of the Black Sea, which Russia has attempted to control completely. Zelenskyy expressed hope for discussing Solidarity Lanes and other instruments to facilitate this. Lastly, he emphasized the significance of Ukraine's EU accession, hoping to find time during the meeting to discuss the future of Ukraine within the European Union.