HIROSHIMA, Japan — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Hiroshima for diplomatic talks with leaders of major democracies, who have increased sanctions to punish Moscow and address the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy's visit to Hiroshima reflects his desire to contribute to discussions on Ukraine's defense against Russia.
He will participate in two separate sessions: one with G7 members focusing on the war in Ukraine, and another with G7 and other invited nations focusing on peace and stability. President Joe Biden will directly engage with Zelenskyy at the summit. Biden has expressed support for training Ukrainian pilots on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, with the possibility of providing those aircraft to Ukraine's Air Force in the future.
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.
China, the world’s No. 2 economy, sits at the nexus of many of those concerns.
There is increasing anxiety in Asia that Beijing, which has been steadily building up its nuclear weapons program, could try to seize Taiwan by force, sparking a wider conflict. China claims the self-governing island as its own and regularly sends ships and warplanes near it.
The G7 leaders expressed concern over China's increasing nuclear arsenal buildup without transparency or meaningful dialogue, stating that it poses a threat to global and regional stability.
The decision to provide F-16 training to Ukraine signifies the Biden administration's ongoing shift towards equipping Ukraine with more advanced and lethal weaponry. This follows previous decisions to send rocket launcher systems and Abrams tanks. The United States has maintained that it is providing weapons to Ukraine for self-defense purposes and has discouraged Ukraine from initiating attacks into Russian territory.
In the statement, the G7 leaders emphasized the need for North Korea to completely abandon its nuclear ambitions, including discontinuing nuclear tests and missile launches using ballistic technology. They made it clear that North Korea cannot attain the status of a nuclear-weapon state under international nuclear treaties.
Regarding the statement, U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned that while the G7 seeks cooperation with China on mutual interests, they also have significant concerns in various areas and will work to address them.
Following closed-door meetings, the G7 leaders released a statement affirming their unwavering support for Ukraine. They denounced Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine as illegal, unjustifiable, and unprovoked, and pledged to stand together against it.
In response to Moscow's war effort, the G7 leaders have introduced new sanctions on Russia and are planning to enhance the effectiveness of existing financial penalties. Russia currently faces the highest number of sanctions among all countries, although their effectiveness has raised concerns.
Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, expressed the importance of considering Ukraine's future defense needs to deter and defend against Russian aggression.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has arrived in Hiroshima for the G7 summit, where he will engage in diplomatic talks with world leaders who have imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy will participate in two sessions, focusing on the war in Ukraine and peace and stability.
President Biden has expressed support for training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. The G7 leaders have issued a statement expressing concern over China's nuclear arsenal buildup and warning against any attempt to change situations by force. T
he leaders have imposed new sanctions on Russia and pledged unwavering support for Ukraine. Discussions at the summit will also cover global economic issues, rising prices, nuclear disarmament, and infrastructure development. The G7 includes Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, and the European Union.