Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to join a meeting hosted by Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenksyy of the country's European allies in Kyiv as they celebrate independence day, amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
The meeting, which has been dubbed 'Coalition of the Willing', will be chaired by the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany, including Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, for his first international trip since taking office at Westminster.
The Taoiseach is expected to join the meeting online.
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Martin said: “Ukraine continues to demonstrate tremendous resilience and courage in the face of relentless Russian attacks”.
“I strongly condemn these actions which have led to significant loss of life and risk further humanitarian crises and call on Russia to end its war".
He said that today's meeting will once again reemphasise Ireland's support for Ukraine, and continued support for its joining the EU, while Ireland holds the bloc's presidency.
He added that Ireland would use this EU presidency to “increase pressure on Russia through robust sanctions, build consensus to ensure that Ukraine has the support it needs and work towards achieving a just and lasting peace for the people of Ukraine”.
The meeting is also set to be attended by EU Council president, Antonio Costa.
Ahead of this meeting, European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen said this block will be reaffirming its "unfaltering support" for Ukraine, as the EU today confirmed it had released another €6.1 billion in military aid to the country in its defence against more Russian military attacks.
“Today, we approved €6.1 billion for the air and missile defence systems, missiles, ammunition and radars that Ukraine urgently needs,” von der Leyen said on X.
In a separate statement, the EU Commission added: “With 376 missile strikes recorded in July alone, reinforcing Ukraine’s defences has become increasingly urgent".
British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham stated that his government is enabling for the defence firm, MBDA to release classified information needed to help Ukraine and France to set up a local production of the long-range SCALP missile.
“Russia should be in no doubt of our resolve,” Burnham said in a statement prior to his arrival in Kyiv. “We will not back down until there is a just and lasting peace".
This also comes as French President, Emmanuel Macron had promised to deliver new helicopter missiles.
Prior to this meeting, Mr Zelenksy had shared the extent of Ukraine's missile deficit, releasing usually closely protected numbers.
“Over the entire of 2023, Ukraine received 675 missiles, and over all of 2025, 364, even though Russian missile strikes have increased,” Zelenskyy said. “For 2026, as currently projected, it is 264".
Elsewhere, US President Donald Trump had previously said during Zelensky's last visit to Washington that the US would give the Ukraine licences to build its own patriot missiles, before later reneging on this promise, stating: "We have not agreed to that".
He said: “We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology". (All quotes in this piece according to The Journal.ie).
