Leaders of the Coalition of the Willing met in Kyiv and by video conference on 24 August 2026 to mark the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine's independence, according to a statement published that day by the UK Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz chaired the meeting alongside President Zelenskyy.

The leaders condemned Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, critical infrastructure and civilians, saying they had caused the highest number of civilian casualties since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, and said a children's hospital in Kyiv was damaged the previous week. They also condemned attacks on cultural heritage sites, including the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra.

The statement said the leaders planned to increase military support, prioritise strengthening air defence and tighten sanctions, and agreed on urgent energy assistance ahead of winter. It said joint action had deprived Russia's war chest of at least $495 billion since February 2022. The coalition said it would continue preparing the Multinational-Force Ukraine to deploy once a credible cessation of hostilities was in place.