Around 10 foreign leaders are expected in Kyiv on Monday, Aug. 24, as Ukraine marks its 35th Independence Day, according to an EU official, AFP reported. The Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries coordinating support for Kyiv, is also set to meet on Monday to reaffirm its backing for Ukraine.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The meeting will be co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, who will join via video link, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The talks will include both in-person and remote participation. European Council President António Costa is also expected in Kyiv as Ukraine seeks to build on recent progress in its EU accession talks. The EU opened negotiations with Ukraine on the fundamentals cluster in June, followed by the external relations cluster in July, marking further steps in Kyiv’s membership bid. The Independence Day gathering is expected to provide a visible show of international backing for Ukraine as Kyiv continues to press its partners for stronger air defenses, additional military assistance and long-term security guarantees. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Friday that Kyiv expects “distinguished guests” for Independence Day as well as new bilateral aid packages from Ukraine’s partners. Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union on Aug. 24, 1991. This year marks the country’s 35th anniversary of independence and comes more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.