Ukraine Celebrates Independence Amid Key Absences

On Monday, Ukraine marked the 35th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union. Leaders from around the world gathered to show support, with figures like the UK’s Andy Burnham attending in person, and Emmanuel Macron of France and Friedrich Merz of Germany joining calls to reaffirm commitments to Kyiv.

Conspicuously absent were senior officials from the United States, a longtime ally. While some U.S. senators and former officials visited ahead of the festivities, the lack of participation from the Trump administration signals a reduced support during a crucial moment. Monday also marked 4 1/2 years since Russia’s large-scale invasion under President Vladimir Putin. Negotiations for peace have faltered amidst dwindling supplies of U.S. air defense missiles and increased threats from Russia.

The U.S. was once Ukraine’s most important supporter, providing military aid and intelligence worth billions. But since Trump returned to office in 2025, significant new aid has halted, with arms being sold to NATO allies to be transferred to Kyiv instead.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham was seen as the highest-profile Western leader present, chairing a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”—a group backing Ukraine. The event took place despite Russian strikes reported overnight. European Council President António Costa and leaders of several European nations were also in Kyiv. Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, congratulated Ukraine in a statement, reinforcing U.S. commitment to its sovereignty. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed gratitude for Rubio’s greetings and extended a warm invitation to Kyiv.

Notably over the weekend, Senators Richard Blumenthal and James Lankford met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Blumenthal attended ceremonies on Monday, joined by former Vice President Mike Pence and ex-special envoy Keith Kellogg, who was once viewed as too close to Ukraine by Russian negotiators.

The shift in American support has been notable. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Congress allocated $195 billion to Ukraine as of March, with significant portions stemming from legislation passed up to April 2024.

Support from the U.K. and France has taken center stage recently. The U.K. is set to allow MBDA, a missile manufacturer, to release data on components used in the SCALP cruise missile. This move enables Ukraine to create local assembly lines. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy announced France’s commitment to expedite the delivery of advanced equipment and missiles. The European Commission also approved $7.1 billion more in aid for Ukraine to purchase air defense systems and other military resources.

As Moscow launches more frequent and powerful rocket attacks, Ukraine faces the risk of depleted interceptor stocks amid a challenging winter season. Zelenskyy has appealed for more interceptors from the U.S., whose supplies were affected by the Iran conflict. A combination of interceptor shortages, cold weather, and power grid attacks could push Ukraine towards unfavorable negotiations.

Despite these challenges, Zelenskyy delivered a defiant speech, expressing Ukraine’s desire for peace but its readiness to resist surrender.