Paris, France. Around 500 soldiers from the Coalition of the Willing supporting Ukraine marched on the Champs-Elysees during France’s annual Bastille Day parade on Tuesday, in an event France described as a symbol of Europe’s strategic awakening.
The parade followed a Paris summit attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and about 25 leaders from Western countries supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Ukraine support
The coalition announced an air-defence initiative as Ukraine faces ammunition shortages and intensified Russian strikes on Kyiv and surrounding regions.
About 25 Ukrainian soldiers took part in the march along the Champs-Elysees. Zelenskiy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were among about 30 leaders invited by President Emmanuel Macron to attend the parade.
International participation
The fly-past included French and allied European aircraft, including French Mirage fighter jets. Macron’s office said Ukrainian co-pilots training on the aircraft would fly them during the parade.
A French presidential adviser said ahead of the event that its international dimension would signal that Europe was responding to a more dangerous global environment.
Security posture
The Kremlin said it was closely monitoring the Coalition of the Willing meeting, describing participating countries as hostile.
Macron said on Monday that Europe faced its gravest threats in decades and needed to be prepared to bear the costs of defending its values and security. He said peace remained the objective, while Europe was prepared to defend freedom and the rule of law.