Western and European leaders arrived in Kyiv on Monday to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, reaffirming support for the country as it continues its resistance against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the presence of international partners in the capital demonstrated the importance of solidarity with Ukraine at a critical moment in the war.

“For Ukraine, independence is not an abstract idea. We defended it against all odds. In times like these, nations learn how important it is to have allies by your side,” Sybiha said.

“And today, we know for sure who our true friends are.”

Among the visiting officials was U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who made his first trip to Kyiv since taking office. Burnham was expected to chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, an initiative launched by London and Paris to coordinate international support for Ukraine.

Burnham also announced that Britain had agreed to allow defense company MBDA to share classified information concerning British components used in the long-range SCALP missile, potentially clearing the way for Ukraine to manufacture its own missiles.

The move could strengthen Ukraine’s domestic defense industry and increase its ability to produce long-range weapons as the war continues.

European Council President Antonio Costa, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Estonian President Alar Karis were also among the senior officials visiting Kyiv.

Several Nordic and Baltic leaders likewise traveled to the Ukrainian capital for the commemorations, highlighting continued European political support for Ukraine.

The visit coincided with Ukraine's fifth Independence Day since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Addressing the nation, President Volodymyr Zelensky portrayed Ukraine as a country that had resisted overwhelming pressure and refused to surrender its independence.

“Ukraine today is not a victim, but a fighter,” Zelensky said, warning that Russia should not be allowed to seize the initiative or mislead Europe and the international community.

Addressing Ukrainian troops, Zelensky praised the country's armed forces and rejected any suggestion that Kyiv would abandon the Donbas.

“You are not giving up our Donbas. You are not giving up Ukraine. You are the best defenders. You are the best army in Europe,” he said.

Zelensky also argued that Russia had underestimated the determination of the Ukrainian population when planning its invasion.

“In all his plans for Ukraine, Putin got the most important thing wrong,” Zelensky said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He argued that while Moscow had calculated Ukraine's military resources, weapons and equipment, it had failed to account for what he described as Ukraine's most important asset — its people.

The Independence Day gatherings also provided an opportunity for Ukraine and its partners to discuss further military and financial assistance.

Sybiha said Ukraine's international partners were expected to announce additional aid packages during the commemorations.

The announcements come as Kyiv continues to seek additional air-defense systems, ammunition, long-range weapons and financial assistance from its European and other Western partners.

The presence of senior European officials in Kyiv also underscored the continued importance of maintaining international backing for Ukraine as the war enters another year.

For Kyiv, Independence Day has become not only a national commemoration but also a demonstration of Ukraine's determination to preserve its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's ongoing military campaign. (ILKHA)