Ukraine celebrates 35th Independence Day as Russia pressed on with its invasion of the country

(NBC, KYMA) - European leaders joined president Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv Monday for celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence day as Russia pressed on with its 4 year old invasion of the country.

One of president Vladimir Putin's key goals in starting a war with Russia's neighbor in February 2022 was to place Kyiv in Moscow's orbit.

Ukrainian lawmakers voted on Aug. 24, 1991, to proclaim the country's independence from Moscow, and a nationwide referendum later that year overwhelmingly approved it.

With no significant changes on the front line for months and no apparent progress after more than a year of U.S. led peace efforts.

Both countries are locked in a spiral of escalating aerial attacks that are killing civilians and smashing infrastructure.

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on his first overseas trip since taking office last month, joined almost a dozen other European leaders, as well as other dignitaries including European Council President Antonio Costa, in Kyiv on Monday.

Burnham was to co-chair a meeting of what has been dubbed the coalition of the willing, a group of countries helping Ukraine resist Russia's onslaught, with the leaders of France and Germany expected to join online.

Zelenskyy said in a speech at Kyiv's st. Sophia square that the presence of European leaders reflected continental fears about Russia's wider ambitions.

The visiting leaders brought pledges of further military and financial support.

The St. Sophia square speeches were accompanied by a street parade of domestically produced weapons.

Both Russia and Ukraine are trying through long-range strikes to inflict economic pain, disrupt military supplies and erode public morale.