Yesterday, the key summit of the Coalition of the Willing was held in the Ukrainian capital, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence. In a hybrid format – with foreign leaders on site and remotely participating – the allies agreed on unprecedented security measures, transfers of classified military technology and financial packages aimed at ensuring the country's air defense before the coming winter.
Main results and decisions of the meeting
The talks between the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and international partners led to several key strategic decisions:
- British breakthrough for the missiles “Storm Shadow“: The new Prime Minister of Great Britain Andy Burnham announced that London gives official consent and provides access to classified technologies to Ukraine. This will allow Kiev to independently produce long-range cruise missiles Storm Shadow. France has already confirmed its license for the components of the analogue SCALP.
- Support for the FREYJA project: The British government has called on the local defense industry to support the development of the joint project FREYJA (anti-ballistic complex and FP-7.x missile, developed by the Ukrainian company Fire Point), which will serve as a cheaper but equally effective alternative to the American systems Patriot.
- 6.1 billion euros from Brussels: The European Commission has officially approved a new tranche of over 6 billion euros for weapons and air defense systems for the needs of Kiev. European Council President Antonio Costa was present in person and stressed that Ukraine's future in the EU is the surest long-term guarantee of stability.
- Billions from Norway: Oslo confirmed a plan to provide additional aid of about $9.2 billion (85 billion kroner) for the next year.
- A strike on Russia's "shadow fleet": French President Emmanuel Macron, who co-chaired the online meeting, proposed convening a separate forum to tighten sanctions and completely block Russian tankers carrying raw materials in circumvention of international embargoes.
The political response and Bulgaria's absence
The meeting was co-chaired by Andy Burnham (UK), Emmanuel Macron (France) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Among those present in Kiev were also the presidents of Finland (Alexander Stubb), Estonia (Alar Karis), Lithuania (Gitanas Nauseda) and Moldova (Maia Sandu).
However, the forum sparked serious domestic political debates in Bulgaria. Our country did not send a representative after Prime Minister Rumen Radev categorically refused to participate, arguing that “Bulgaria's place is not there“. His decision was met with sharp criticism from the parliamentary opposition in the person of Boyko Borisov and Democratic Bulgaria, who defined the “empty chair in diplomacy“ as a serious risk, leaving our country on the periphery of geopolitical decision-making in Europe.
For its part, the Kremlin, through its spokesman Dmitry Peskov, sharply criticized the decisions from Kiev, defining the transfer of missile technologies from the UK as “pouring oil on the fire“ and directly involving London in the conflict.