Hiroshima: Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, travelled to Hiroshima, Japan, on Saturday to meet with the heads of the richest democracies in the world and rally support for his nation's defence against an invasion by Russia.

Zelensky's attendance at the Group of Seven summit in the first city to experience a nuclear attack brought the nuclear threat posed by Russia to the fore in the minds of western governments.

The G7 summit in Hiroshima takes place in the midst of severe difficulties for its participants, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and tensions with China, particularly over Taiwan.

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Zelensky exited a French government plane wearing his typical olive-green fatigues and hurried to a waiting car, according to footage from Japanese broadcasters.

He tweeted shortly after: "Japan. G7. Important gatherings with Ukraine's friends and allies.

His arrival follows a G7 warning that countries trying to use trade as a weapon would face "consequences," sending a clear message to China over actions that Washington has long deemed to be economic bullying.

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Zelensky had to physically appear before the Arab League and the G7, where representatives from the Global South were present, in order to explain Ukraine's perspective as the victim of a Russian attack and how he saw a peace settlement in the future, according to French and European officials.

A representative of the French presidential office told reporters, "We have to use all means to bind non-aligned states to the cause of the defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."

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In addition to the G7 leaders, Zelensky will meet privately with the leaders of Brazil and India, two nations that have not cut ties with Moscow.
On Sunday, he is scheduled to meet with the G7 before a larger meeting with participants from the Global South.