Zelensky joins G7 in Hiroshima as group urges China to act against Russian aggression

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyarrived in Hiroshima, Japan, this Saturday to participate in the G7 summit, whose leaders urged China to “pressure Russia to cease its aggression” against Ukraine.

Zelenski, who arrived in Hiroshima around 3:30 p.m. local time on a French Republic plane, tweeted after landing that peace will be “closer” after this summit, a day after getting the United States to open the way to authorize the delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.

The visit gives him the opportunity to meet with the leaders of the seven most industrialized economies (USA, Canada, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy), who financially and militarily support their country in the face of the Russian invasion, which began in February 2022.

He will also be able to reach out to other non-aligned powers present at the meeting, such as India and Brazil, which have close relations with Russia and have not condemned the invasion of their country.

G7 leaders on Saturday urged China, a close Moscow ally that has never condemned the invasion, to “put pressure on Russia to cease its aggression” against Ukraine and “immediately, fully and unconditionally withdraw its troops.”

“historic” decision

The Ukrainian president will meet with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, to discuss “the practical application” of the US decision on fighter jets.

Biden “is looking forward to meeting face to face” with his Ukrainian counterpart during the summit, which began on Friday and will end on Sunday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.

Zelensky will also have bilateral meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Washington confirmed on Friday that it will support the training of Ukrainian pilots in US-made F-16 fighter jets, and said it was willing to authorize other countries to supply Kiev with these aircraft. A “historic” decision, Zelenski celebrated.

During the long months of training, the Westerners will decide the delivery schedule of the planes, their quantity and the countries that will supply them.

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Britain will work with its allies to “provide Ukraine with the combat air capability it needs,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in Japan. Emmanuel Macron also expressed his willingness on Monday to train Ukrainian pilots.

Zelenski multiplied the meetings with foreign leaders in the last days, in search of military support to launch a counteroffensive in the territories occupied by Russia.

On Friday he made a stopover in Saudi Arabia to participate in an Arab League summit, where he reproached that “some” of the countries represented there “close their eyes” to the Russian invasion of their country.

Until now, Westerners, led by the United States, have resisted requests for these fighters, worried about a possible escalation of the conflict.

Sullivan assured that the US doctrine “has not changed”, and that the F-16s are part of the equipment that Kiev will need “in the future” to “be able to deter and defend against all Russian aggression.”

Washington repeated that with its military aid, “the United States does not facilitate, and does not support, attacks on Russian soil.”

China in the spotlight

In Hiroshima, victim in 1945 of the first atomic bombing in history, the leaders of the G7 announced on Friday a tightening of their sanctions against Russia.

The leaders expressed their concern about the increase in China’s economic, diplomatic and military power, in a context of tension between Washington and Beijing.

But they also assured that they wanted “constructive and stable relations” with the Asian giant, stressing “the importance of frankly committing ourselves.”

In their statement, the G7 leaders showed their “opposition” to any Chinese “militarization” in the Asia-Pacific region, assuring that there is no “legal basis” for China’s “expansive maritime claims.”

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

This declaration is the result of negotiations between countries like the United States, which defends a firmer position, and others on the European side that insist on avoiding any climate of “confrontation.”

The G7 countries want to diversify their supply chains to be less dependent on China in particular, and warned against any attempts at “economic coercion” without directly naming China in a statement.