Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky knew even before he arrived in Japan that he would leave the G7 summit with access to the US F-16 fighter jets he had been asking for for months. But the purpose of his presence in Hiroshima did not end there. “Formula for peace. We are attracting as many countries and leaders as possible for the good of Ukraine. Defense. Long-term support programs for Ukraine. Finance and economy,” he explained at the end of a day he deemed “very powerful”. .
Zelensky landed in Japan at 3:30 p.m. local time and participated in six bilateral meetings. The main one was with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, another special guest at the G7 summit – who not only reiterated his support for Ukraine, but wanted to bet on the so-called Global South and find ways to contain China.
The meeting between Zelensky and Modi was the first since the invasion, as India maintains close military relations with Moscow and has refused to condemn the invasion. “I fully understand your pain and the pain of the Ukrainian citizens. I can assure you that India and I personally will do what we can to resolve this,” Modi told Zelensky. On Telegram, the Ukrainian leader explained that the talk was “serious” and that he believes “India will participate in restoring international order”.
Zelensky also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni before she left Japan – earlier than expected due to flooding that has already killed 14 people in northern Italy. And he was with the British Head of Government, Rishi Sunak, with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and with the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz. Zelensky addressed the three by their first names on Telegram.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who also met Zelensky, believed that his presence at the G7 “could be a game changer” for Ukraine, as this is “a unique opportunity” to make their case with the countries of the Global South – alongside Indian leader, Brazilian Lula da Silva, Indonesian Joko Widodo, head of the Vietnamese government, Pham Minh Chinh, and the Australian Anthony Albanese.
This Sunday’s agenda includes not only Zelensky’s speech, but also the bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden – who on Friday gave the green light for Kiev to gain access to the F16 fighters. “I am very happy,” the Ukrainian president repeated yesterday. Russia has also responded. “We see Western countries continuing on the path of escalation. This poses enormous risks to themselves,” Deputy Chief of Diplomacy Alexander Grushko told TASS news agency.
Moscow, through the head of diplomacy Sergei Lavrov, also accused the leaders of the G7 (Germany, Canada, USA, France, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, to which the European Union is joining) of making decisions “targeting on the double containment of Russia and the People’s Republic of China”. This after more sanctions were approved against Russian interests and the numerous criticisms of China.
Beijing expressed its “strong dissatisfaction” with the statement issued by the G7 yesterday. In it, the leaders ask China not to “carry out interference activities” in their countries and to “express concern” about human rights violations. In addition, they emphasize the importance of “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait. “The G7 persistently manipulates China-related issues. It discredits and attacks China,” China’s foreign ministry complained.
Bakhmut fallen?
On the battle front in Ukraine, attention remains concentrated in the east, on Bakhmut. Wagner Group mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin finally claimed full control of the city – scene of the longest (224 days) and bloodiest (estimated to have killed at least 20,000) battle since the Russian invasion. But the Ukrainians deny it, despite admitting that the situation is “critical”.
“By noon, Bakhmut was completely taken over,” Prigozhin said in a video he shared on Telegram yesterday. “By May 25, we will create and deliver the necessary lines of defense [a cidade] to the army” he added, saying his troops would retire to rest and train. But Ukrainian military spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters that fighting continues. Information repeated by the Deputy Defense Minister, Hanna Maliar, who, however, admitted that “the situation is critical”.
The fall of Bakhmut would have symbolic value, as the old mining town (home to 70,000 people before the war) is of no real strategic importance – however, it served to keep Russian forces concentrated, giving Ukraine a chance to buy time to prepare. a counter-offensive that has not yet taken place.
with authorities
Source: DN
