Hiroshima: After obtaining long-desired access to cutting-edge US fighter jets for Ukraine's war effort, President Volodymyr Zelensky made a historic trip to Hiroshima on Saturday for talks with G7 leaders.
Zelensky's unexpected summit appearance—he had been scheduled to participate via video call—marks his greatest departure from Kyiv since the start of Russia's invasion 15 months ago.
He arrived greatly encouraged by the White House's "historic" choice to give Ukraine access to F-16 jets, some of the most advanced equipment the West has ever provided.
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The group of seven wealthy democracies gathered in Japan to talk about a variety of topics, including the need for "constructive and stable" relations with China, whom the bloc charged on Saturday with "economic coercion."
However, Zelensky's arrival and the discussion surrounding the protracted conflict in Ukraine have taken centre stage at the summit. Zelensky predicted that the summit would lead to "increased cooperation for our victory" and that "today, peace will be closer" as he touched down.
Ukraine's forces have regrouped for a counteroffensive after a bloody winter of fighting that saw Russian gains in the eastern city of Bakhmut, but they are still reliant on the supply of Western weapons.
According to military experts, the aircraft would be a significant improvement over Ukraine's ageing Soviet-era fleet, providing greater potential for air or ground strikes in the future.
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They also serve as a potent symbol of Western support for Ukraine, putting an end to any speculation that support may be waning as the conflict drags on. The choice, according to strategist and former Australian major general Mick Ryan, is "very significant."
He told AFP that the F-16s would make life "more difficult" for Russian missile-launching aircraft flying over and around Ukraine. "F-16s have the sensors and weapon systems that are either equal to, or overmatch, Russian fighters," he said.
Up until this point, US President Joe Biden effectively blocked the transfer of US-made F-16s, citing lengthy pilot induction programmes and the potential to escalate the conflict with Russia.
Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser for the US, insisted that there had been no change in US policy and that the choice had been made due to the "exigencies of the conflict."
It is now appropriate to consider what Ukraine will require in the future to be able to fend off and defend against Russian aggression.
He continued by saying that Ukraine had pledged not to use US military hardware to attack targets inside Russia.
"We are going to do everything we can to support Ukraine in its defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we're also going to proceed in a way that avoids World War III," he declared.
Following the lifting of the US veto, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak swiftly declared that the UK would "work together with the USA and the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark to get Ukraine the combat air capability it needs."
Zelensky's visit provides an opportunity for consultation with allies, but it may be more crucial to court important non-aligned nations that will be attending the summit, like India and Brazil.
The first meeting since the invasion, which India has chosen not to condemn, was captured in photos posted online by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's staff shaking hands.
For Zelensky, "there is an opportunity to engage with these non-Western actors, to try to bolster support, or at least weaken what may be seen as ambivalence towards the conflict," Ian Lesser, vice president of the German Marshall Fund think-tank, told AFP.
They are important, too. Of course, they are particularly important in terms of sanctions," he continued.
Separate meetings with the prime ministers of Italy and the UK were also held by Zelensky, and talks with the presidents of the US and France are anticipated.
The G7 leaders warned China in a thinly veiled statement released on Saturday that attempts to "weaponize" supply chains would "fail and face consequences" before Zelensky arrived.
In addition, the bloc promised to address weak spots in the supply chains for "critical goods" like batteries, semiconductors, and minerals.
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An EU official said, "What we have done with China over the past 20 years, encouraging development, was right, but perhaps we should have been more cautious on critical material, supply chains, and those elements."
The group also urged Beijing to put pressure on Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine and forbade China from "militarising" the South China Sea. However, the bloc insisted that it remained committed to pursuing "constructive and stable relations" with China