Volodimir Zelensky meets with G7 leaders

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskymet several world leaders this Saturday after arriving in Hiroshima for the G7 summitwhose leaders urged China to “press Russia to stop its aggression against Ukraine”.

Zelensky arrived in the Japanese city on an official French plane and shortly after landing, he tweeted that peace will be “closer” after this summit, a day after the United States cleared the way to authorize the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president, who is trying to widen the circle of support for his country, Since arriving at the summit, he has met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi – whose country refuses to condemn Russia’s aggression in Ukraine that began in February 2022 – and the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.

Your presence in Hiroshima “may change the game” for KievFrench President Emmanuel Macron said before a meeting between the two heads of state.

The top seven most industrialized economies (United States, Canada, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy) According to Macron, it is a “unique opportunity” for Zelensky to talk to his allies, but also to the leaders of other invited countries, such as India or Brazil.

Modi, for his part, assured that India will do “everything possible” to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

A diplomatic source said Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva would also speak with Zelenski after accusing Westerners of “encouraging war”.

Zelensky will also meet with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

On his way to Japan on Friday, the Ukrainian president stopped in Saudi Arabia to ask his country for support during an Arab League summit.

“historic” decision

Washington confirmed on Friday that it would allow other countries to supply Kiev with US-made F-16 fighter jets. A “historic” decision, Zelensky celebrated.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan indicated that the United States will support a joint initiative by its allies to train Ukrainian pilots on these planes.

The United States is also supporting an initiative by its allies to train Ukrainian pilots. During the long months of training, the Westerners will decide on the delivery schedule of the planes, their numbers and the countries they will supply.

G7 leaders on Saturday also urged China, a close ally of Moscow that has never condemned the invasion, to “press Russia to cease its aggression against Ukraine” and “remove its troops immediately, completely and unconditionally.” Pull”.

Criticism from Moscow and Beijing

In Hiroshima, victim of the first atomic bomb in history in 1945, the leaders of the G7 issued a statement expressing their “opposition” to any Chinese “militarization” in the Asia-Pacific region.

They also claimed there is no “legal basis” for China’s “vast maritime claims”.

But they also pointed out that they want “constructive and stable relations” with the Asian giant, underlining “the importance of frank contacts”.

In addition, they reiterated that “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait is “indispensable” for world security.

This statement is the result of negotiations between countries such as the United States, who defend a firmer position, and others on the European side who insist on avoiding any climate of ‘confrontation’.

Russia’s head of diplomacy, Sergei Lavrov, accused G7 leaders of wanting to “restrain” both Russia and China, and Beijing expressed “strong dissatisfaction” after the release of the final statement.

The G7 countries, seeking to diversify their supply chains to be less dependent on other countries such as China, raised their tone against any attempt at “economic coercion”, implicitly referring to Beijing.