Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has landed in Hiroshima for the G-7 summit.
Japan disclosed that Zelenskyy’s decision to visit Hiroshima comes from his “strong wish” to take part in discussions that will influence his nation’s defense against Russia.
An EU official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, divulged that Zelenskyy will participate in two separate sessions on Sunday, May 21, 2023. The first session will be with G7 members only and will focus on the war in Ukraine. The second session will include the G7 as well as the other nations invited to take part in the summit, and will focus on “peace and stability.”
According to Jake Sullivan, the U.S. National Security Adviser, President Joe Biden and Zelenskyy will hold face-to-face engagement at the summit. Biden stated on Friday that he was in favor of teaching Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16 fighter planes before finally supplying the Ukrainian Air Force with those aircraft.
Following prior agreements to transfer Abrams tanks and rocket launcher systems, the Biden administration has now approved F-16 training as part of its effort to empower Ukraine with more cutting-edge and potent weapons. Insisting that it is doing so in order that Ukraine can defend itself, the United States has actively prevented Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory.
“We’ve reached a moment where it is time to look down the road again to say what is Ukraine going to need as part of a future force, to be able to deter and defend against Russian aggression as we go forward.”
Jake Sullivan
Biden’s decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation F-16 fighter jets will be made in the months ahead while the training is underway, Biden told leaders.
Zelenskyy has consistently called for Western fighter jets to bolster his country’s defenses. As Ukraine has improved its air defenses with a host of Western-supplied anti-aircraft systems and prepares to launch a counteroffensive against Russia, officials believe the jets could become essential to the country’s long-term security.
Kishida Hold Talks With Modi
Also on Saturday, May 20, 2023, Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida held separate discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
During their meeting, Kishida stressed that attempts to change by force should not be tolerated anywhere in the world; a possible reference to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a warning to China over Taiwan. India is hosting the gathering of G20 world leaders later this year.
India, the world’s largest democracy, has been measured in its comments on the war in Ukraine, and has avoided outright condemnation of Russia’s invasion. While India maintains close ties with the U.S. and its Western allies, it is also a major buyer of Russian arms and oil.
President Joe Biden, who cancelled plans to travel on to Papua New Guinea and Australia after his stay in Japan so that he can get back to debt limit talks in Washington, arranged to meet on the G-7 sidelines with leaders of the so-called Quad partnership on Saturday. The Quad partnership is made up of Japan, Australia, India and the United States.
A U.S. official said the leaders on Saturday would issue a joint communique outlining new projects in the G7’s global infrastructure development initiative, which is meant to offer countries an alternative to China’s investment dollars.
World leaders have faced a balancing act at the G7 in Hiroshima as they look to address a raft of global worries demanding urgent attention, including climate change, AI, poverty and economic instability, nuclear proliferation and, above all, the war in Ukraine.
