president Joe Biden I wrapped my arms around Volodymyr Zelensky He expressed support ahead of a one-on-one meeting when the Ukrainian president met with leaders at the summit. G7.
Zelensky will address the summit on Sunday, asking for diplomatic and military support for the campaign to end Russia’s aggression.
Prior to his remarks, he had a photo spray session with world leaders. In striking contrast, the leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies wore suits and ties. Mr. Zelensky, on the other hand, wore his signature military green.
Heads of state were eager to show their support and took time to chat with Zelensky after the photos were completed. Mr. Biden put his arm around Mr. Zelensky’s shoulders as the leaders left the room.
The stakes are high for the Ukrainian president, who needs the military, economic and ruthless cash of Western allies to oust Russian President Vladimir. President Putin and his army from his country.
He plans to hold a one-on-one meeting with Biden late Sunday as part of a campaign to shore up support for allies ahead of the spring offensive he plans to oust Putin.
President Joe Biden puts his arm around Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
Mr. Zelensky went all out.
He arrived in Hiroshima on Saturday afternoon and went straight to a series of meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European leaders.
Biden is “looking forward” to the meeting, a senior administration official told reporters.
“The president will continue to reiterate America’s resolute and unwavering support for Ukraine,” the official said.
Mr. Zelensky arrives Japan It came shortly after Biden reversed course and gave European allies the go-ahead to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to fight Russia.
The beleaguered president said fighter jets wouldn’t immediately help the war effort, but said the decision was “great.”
“I’m very happy,” he said at the summit on Saturday. “It really helps our society, our people, save their homes and families.”
The farthest advance from Kiev since the Russian invasion began 15 months ago, President Zelensky arrived on a French plane at heavily guarded Hiroshima airport. He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Snack and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 Summit.
While he was in Japan, Russia stepped up its war operations in Ukraine. Wagner’s mercenaries and the army attacked the city of Bahmut and declared victory there.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (entering) takes a family photo with G7 leaders
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at Hiroshima Airport on Saturday
Mr. Zelensky is seen through the airport fence as he enters the convoy.
Presidents Biden and Zelensky to meet one-on-one at G7 on Sunday
Wagner’s leader Evgeny Prigozhin (pictured) claimed his troops were in full control of Bakhmut in a video recorded in front of the destroyed building as distant explosions were heard. but (Kiev denies),
Kiev denied that Russia won there.
But Putin congratulated him.
“As a result of the offensive actions of the Wagner assault force, with the artillery and aviation support of the ‘Southern’ units, the liberation of the city of Artemovsk was completed,” the Russian Ministry of Defense announced, using the Soviet-era name. Bahmut.
“President Vladimir Putin congratulated Wagner’s assault force and all Russian military personnel who provided the necessary support and flanking on the completion of the city liberation operation,” TASS reported. the Kremlin said.
The now largely destroyed city is of no strategic importance to Russia, but Ukraine is devoting significant resources to its defense.
Western estimates put between 20,000 and 30,000 Russian casualties in Bakhmut, with Ukrainian forces suffering heavy casualties.
Meanwhile, President Zelensky had a busy schedule on the first day of the G7 summit.
It was the first face-to-face meeting between Zelensky and Modi since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly 15 months ago.
India has close ties to Russia, is a major buyer of Russian arms and Russian oil, and contributes to Putin’s war funds. The Modi government has also sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, but has abstained from UN resolutions calling for Russia to withdraw and condemn aggression.
Before arriving at the G7, Zelensky stopped in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to address the Arab League summit. In his remarks, he accused some Arab leaders of ignoring the threat of a Russian invasion of their country.
“Unfortunately, some of you, both in the world and here, are turning a blind eye to those cages and illegal annexations,” he said, urging an “honest look” at the war.
Ahead of Zelensky’s arrival, Biden, who is facing pressure from Europe to help end the conflict in Ukraine, will allow European nations with F-16s to transfer some of their fighter jets to conflict countries. agreed.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters on Saturday, “President Biden has asked G7 partners to join forces to train Ukrainian pilots of fourth-generation fighter jets, including the F-16. I told them that the United States would support the effort,” he said.
“Over the past few months, we, our allies and partners have been seriously focused on providing Ukraine with this system’s weaponry, and we need to train it to conduct effective offensive operations this spring,” he said. ‘ said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meets with British Prime Minister Rishi Snak (left) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (right) at the G7.
President Zelensky met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at the G7 summit in a motorcade
Plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky makes a decent flight
Ukraine is planning a major counteroffensive to retake territory and drive out Putin’s forces. But the delivery and operational training of the F-16 will take many months.
“We welcome the historic decision of the United States and the President to support the International Fighter Alliance. This will significantly strengthen our forces in the air,” Zelensky said on Twitter.
Zelensky traveled to Europe this week to meet with leaders of France, Italy, Britain and Germany to strengthen alliances and seek more help.
Early in the conflict, Mr. Biden warned that a state-of-the-art fighter program would be used to strike Russia’s heartland, prompting the Kremlin to escalate the conflict beyond Ukraine’s borders. They resisted the dispatch of fighter planes.
However, several European countries have F-16s and would like to send them to Kiev, but the planes contain advanced U.S. technology, so they cannot give them to third parties. requires US approval.
“Nothing has changed,” Sullivan insisted. Our approach to providing arms, supplies and training to Ukrainians is responsive to the exigencies of the conflict. “
“Now we have achieved everything we set out to do,” he added. “We put the Ukrainians in a position to advance on the battlefield through counterattacks.
President Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron
Japan laid red carpet to welcome Zelensky
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky walks in the corridors of the Grand Prince Hotel, where the G7 summit will be held
Zelensky flew to Hiroshima on a French plane
The F-16 fighter has long been at the top of Ukraine’s wish list
F-16 training will be conducted by US personnel in the coming weeks. The schedule for that exercise remains unknown, but US officials previously estimated it could take up to 18 months.
“As training rolls out over the next few months, we will work with our allies to determine when the planes will be delivered and who will deliver how many,” Sullivan said.
The US Air Force has two F-16 wings in Europe. The 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Force Base, Italy, and the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Force Base, Germany. The United States also regularly sends F-16 fighters in small groups around Europe and beyond on a rotating basis.
So far, Ukraine has relied on much older MiG fighters, 27 of which came from Poland and Slovakia. In addition to Poland and Norway, only a few European countries supply F-16s, including the Netherlands, which has 40, and Denmark, which has 30.
The F-16 has been at the top of Ukraine’s weapon wish list since the country received main battle tanks from the United States, Britain, Germany and others.
Western allies are taking even tougher measures against Russia in an attempt to pressure Putin to end the war. G7 leaders on Friday announced additional sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector and military complex.
In response, the Russian government stepped up its bombing campaign in Ukraine.
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