President Volodymyr Zelensky secured extra arms, munitions and “unwavering” diplomatic help from allies at a G7 summit in Japan Sunday, as Ukrainian forces suffered a major battlefield setback.
After two days of talks in Hiroshima — a metropolis synonymous with the horrors of nuclear struggle — Zelensky gained a dedication from the US for but extra “ammunition, artillery, armoured autos” on high of long-sought entry to F-16 jets.
However the navy enhance got here as Russia claimed to have taken management of Bakhmut, the scene of months of fierce preventing that has all however razed town.
Zelensky acknowledged Moscow’s troops have been inside town however insisted it was “not occupied”.
After laying flowers at a memorial to victims of the 1945 atomic bomb assault on Hiroshima, Zelensky tearfully in contrast the carnage of 78 years in the past to the carnage of Ukraine as we speak.
“The photographs of Hiroshima remind me of Bakhmut. There may be completely nothing alive, all of the buildings are destroyed,” Zelensky mentioned.
“Absolute whole destruction. There may be nothing, there aren’t any individuals.”
However he vowed that, like Hiroshima, Ukraine would get well.
For his or her half, US President Joe Biden and different G7 leaders signalled they have been beneath no illusions that Russia’s 15-month-old invasion would finish shortly, vowing to help Ukraine so long as it takes.
“Won’t waver, Putin is not going to break our resolve as he thought he may,” Biden mentioned.
The White Home earlier unveiled a $375 million bundle of US help that features ammunition for HIMAR rocket launchers, artillery shells, anti-tank guided missiles and thermal imaging programs.
This, simply days after the US lifted a veto on Ukrainian entry to superior US-made F-16 fighter jets, was a major improve from Kyiv’s Chilly Struggle-era fleet for MiGs and Sukhois.
– Diplomatic offensive –
Zelensky’s unannounced journey to Japan has been a serious diplomatic coup, placing his nation and Russia’s invasion firmly on the high of the agenda.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mentioned the invitation had been a “deeply significant” image of help.
“By inviting President Zelensky to Japan, we demonstrated the unwavering solidarity of G7 with Ukraine,” he mentioned.
Zelensky secured agency backing for key parts of his 10-point peace plan, centred on the necessity for a Russian withdrawal.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz mentioned the message from Ukraine and its allies was clear: “Russia should withdraw troops”.
Any peace plan, he mentioned, “cannot merely be linked to a freeze of the battle”.
“Russia mustn’t guess that if it holds out lengthy sufficient, it should find yourself weakening help for Ukraine.”
In addition to securing diplomatic backing from allies, the go to afforded Zelensky a uncommon alternative to win over a handful of countries who’ve pointedly supplied little or no condemnation of Russia’s invasion.
Leaders from India, Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia have been amongst these invited to attend the summit as non-members.
After a one-on-one assembly, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi advised Zelensky: “I perceive your ache and the ache of Ukrainian residents very effectively.”
“I can guarantee you that to resolve this India and, me personally, will do no matter we are able to do.”
African Union chair and Comoros President Azali Assoumani advised AFP that Zelensky’s assembly with G7 leaders and different invited nations had grow to be “emotional” when the Ukrainian president recalled his nation’s travails.
“We condemned the struggle, we supported Zelensky, and I personally and sincerely saluted his braveness,” he mentioned.
However there was one rumple in Zelensky’s diplomatic attraction offensive.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has accused the West of “encouraging the struggle”, didn’t meet his Ukrainian counterpart.
Whereas Lula condemned the “violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity” and known as for dialogue in group discussions, he additionally took a swipe at members of the UN Safety Council, whose everlasting members are Britain, China, France, Russia and the US.
One official current described the trade as “frank”.
“Everlasting members proceed the lengthy custom of waging unauthorised wars, whether or not in pursuit of territorial enlargement or in pursuit of regime change,” a seeming reference to the US-led Iraq Struggle.
Zelensky mentioned scheduling conflicts had prevented the pair from assembly.
Requested if he was disenchanted to overlook talks with Lula, he replied: “I believe he’s disenchanted.”
bur-arb/sah/pbt
Initially revealed as Zelensky wins new diplomatic, navy help from G7
