• France's Bastille Day military parade underscores Western military support for Ukraine with a display of strength and a focus on anti-ballistic capabilities in Europe.
• The parade featured around 30 world leaders from the Coalition of the Willing, including Ukrainian President Zelensky, German Chancellor Merz, and British Prime Minister Starmer, with nearly 6,800 troops and a significantly expanded display of military vehicles.
• The event marked President Macron's final Bastille Day ceremony, highlighting Europe's strengthening defence posture and continued backing for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.

France used its biggest-ever Bastille Day military parade on Tuesday to underscore continued Western military support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were among around 30 world leaders from the Coalition of the Willing, a group of countries backing Ukraine, invited to watch the parade from a special grandstand on the Champs-Élysées boulevard.

At the head of the parade were 500 soldiers from member countries of the coalition. The Patrouille de France aerobatic team was accompanied by two Mirage fighter jets with French-Ukrainian crews.

The parade is the 10th and final Bastille Day ceremony presided over by President Emmanuel Macron. France's two-round presidential election is scheduled for next April and May, and he is ineligible to stand again.

The Coalition of the Willing met in Paris on Monday with Zelensky to discuss further military assistance for Kiev. At the meeting, Ukraine and nine other countries announced they had agreed to work together to develop anti-ballistic capabilities in Europe to protect the continent.

This year's Bastille Day ceremony also showcased France's military build-up, Europe's strengthening defence posture and continued backing for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion, according to the Élysée Palace.

According to the Élysée Palace, this Bastille Day parade is the largest ever staged, with nearly 6,800 troops taking part and a significantly expanded display of military vehicles.

Germany participated with four military aircraft and 21 soldiers from Artillery Battalion 295, based in Stetten am kalten Markt in southern Germany. The unit is part of the Franco-German Brigade.

Merz attended the parade as Macron's guest of honour, the first German chancellor to do so since Angela Merkel in 2019.

France's national day commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, a defining event of the French Revolution.