Coalition of the Willing Meets in London as Leaders Target Russia’s War Economy and Boost Ukraine’s Defences.
London:
European leaders are gathering in London today for a pivotal meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, as Ukraine’s allies intensify efforts to cripple Russia’s ability to wage war and strengthen Kyiv’s defences ahead of the harsh winter months.
The meeting, hosted at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), will see several European heads of state and foreign ministers attending in person. They will be welcomed by children from St Mary’s Ukrainian School, which has provided refuge and education for hundreds of displaced Ukrainian children since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. A further 20 international leaders are expected to join the discussions via video link.
During the high-level talks, the UK Prime Minister is expected to urge allied nations to take decisive steps to ensure Ukraine enters the winter in its strongest position yet. His appeal will focus on three key objectives:
- Cutting Russia’s energy revenues by removing its oil and gas exports from global markets;
- Unlocking frozen Russian sovereign assets to channel billions of pounds into funding Ukraine’s defences; and
- Accelerating the supply of long-range capabilities to enable Ukraine to sustain its recent battlefield successes.
The agenda will also include urgent discussions on how to protect Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which remains a primary target of Russian strikes. Moscow’s continued bombardment of critical facilities has left millions of Ukrainians facing the prospect of power shortages, heating failures, and blackouts during the coldest months of the year.
In a significant announcement during the meeting, the Prime Minister Keir Starmer will confirm that the UK’s missile production programme has been accelerated, enabling the delivery of over 100 additional air defence missiles ahead of schedule. The move is designed to reinforce Ukraine’s air shield as Russian drone and missile attacks intensify.
This acceleration forms part of a £1.6 billion defence deal struck in March between UK industry and Ukraine. The agreement provides for the production of more than 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) — weapons critical to countering low-flying drones and helicopters — while simultaneously creating 200 new jobs and safeguarding 700 existing positions at Thales in Belfast.
Thanks to rapid progress in manufacturing, the delivery of an extra 140 LMMs has now been brought forward to ensure Ukraine receives them during the winter months.
As leaders convene, the meeting underscores the Coalition’s unity and determination to maintain pressure on Russia’s war economy while ensuring Ukraine’s continued resilience — both on the battlefield and on the home front — as the conflict enters another challenging winter.
