Bastille Day: 500 soldiers from Ukraine's allies march down Paris's Champs-Élysées

Bastille Day: 500 soldiers from Ukraine's allies march down Paris's Champs-Élysées
Soldiers from Ukraine's allies march during the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris, France, 14 July, 2026.
Reuters

Around 500 soldiers from countries supporting Ukraine marched down Paris's Champs-Élysées during France's annual Bastille Day parade. France said the procession, which also included 25 Ukrainian soldiers, demonstrated that Europe was ready to respond to growing international threats.

Leaders gather in Paris

This year's Bastille Day, which commemorates the beginning of the French Revolution, came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined around 25 leaders in the French capital for a summit of countries supporting Kyiv in its war with Moscow.

During the meeting, the allies announced an air defence coalition to help Ukraine counter intensifying Russian strikes on the capital, Kyiv, and surrounding regions.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska attends the annual Bastille Day military parade on the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France, 14 July, 2026.
Reuters

Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz were among around 30 leaders invited by French President Emmanuel Macron to watch Tuesday's parade, the last before he leaves office in 2027.

Display of European unity

The traditional fly-past featured French and allied European aircraft, including French Mirage fighter jets that Macron's office said would be flown with Ukrainian co-pilots currently training on the aircraft.

"It will be a historic parade because of this international dimension, which will be a strong signal that Europe is waking up and coming to terms with how dangerous the world has become," a French presidential adviser told reporters ahead of the event.

The Kremlin previously said it was closely monitoring Monday's summit of countries supporting Kyiv, describing the nations taking part as "hostile".

Macron warns of growing threats

Speaking at Monday's summit, Macron said the continent was facing its gravest threats in decades and needed to be prepared to bear the costs of defending its values and security.

"The message we're sending to the world is the following: yes, peace is our goal, yes, we cherish freedom and the rule of law, and yes, we stand ready to fight to defend them, even at the cost of blood if necessary," he said.

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