European leaders gathered in Kyiv on Monday to join Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in marking the country’s Independence Day, as Russia’s invasion stretches into its fifth year with no clear end in sight.

The celebrations come more than four years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. One of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s key objectives was to draw Ukraine back into Moscow’s sphere of influence. Ukrainians overwhelmingly voted for independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Despite more than a year of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts, there has been little progress toward ending the war. The front lines have seen few major changes in recent months, while Russia and Ukraine have intensified long-range drone and missile attacks that have killed civilians and damaged critical infrastructure.

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham arrived in Kyiv on his first overseas trip since taking office last month. He joined nearly a dozen other European leaders and dignitaries, including European Council President Antonio Costa, for the Independence Day events.

“For Ukraine, independence is not an abstract idea. We defended it against all odds,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media, stressing the importance of international support.

Burnham is also expected to co-chair a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing,” a group of countries supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia. The leaders of France and Germany are expected to participate virtually.

European officials arrived with pledges of additional military and financial assistance. According to Burnham’s office, the British government has agreed to allow defense company MBDA to release classified information related to British components used in the SCALP long-range missile.

The move could enable France and Ukraine to advance plans to manufacture the missile locally in Ukraine.

SCALP is the French version of Britain’s Storm Shadow cruise missile, with both weapons incorporating shared British and French technology.

Ukraine has relied heavily on NATO countries for weapons, financial assistance and other support as it confronts Russia’s larger military, although relations with Washington have cooled under President Donald Trump.

Russia, meanwhile, has strengthened its cooperation with countries including North Korea and China as the conflict continues.