President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine will attend the Group of seven summit in Japan in particular person on Sunday, the Japanese authorities stated on Saturday, hours after President Biden reversed course and advised U.S. allies that he would permit Ukrainian pilots to be educated on American-made F-16 fighter jets.
Because the G7 leaders reaffirmed their collective assist of Ukraine within the face of Russia’s invasion, Mr. Zelensky on Friday welcomed the “historic choice” by Mr. Biden, and stated on Twitter that he would focus on its “sensible implementation” on the summit.
Mr. Zelensky was anticipated to deal with the leaders of the Group of seven nations, who’ve gathered in Hiroshima, Japan, a metropolis that was itself as soon as leveled by conflict, as he seeks to marshal extra navy assist for his nation from the leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies. His go to was organized after he expressed a “sturdy want” to take part head to head, Japan’s Ministry of International Affairs stated in an announcement.
The Ukrainian president was anticipated to reach in Hiroshima on Saturday afternoon, Kyodo Information reported, citing authorities sources. Late Friday, he departed Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the place he attended the Arab League summit, the Saudi state information company reported.
Mr. Biden’s choice on pilot coaching, which creates a pathway for supplying Ukraine with fighter jets, fulfills Mr. Zelensky’s persistent request for superior warplanes to beat Russian air supremacy. With its trendy missiles and a strong radar that may spot targets from tons of of miles away, the F-16 accommodates labeled and different extremely restricted methods that america doesn’t need duplicated or falling into hostile arms.
Mr. Zelensky’s journey to Japan follows his go to to Saudi Arabia on Friday, the newest cease on a flurry of his journeys outdoors Ukraine to shore up assist forward of an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. In Saudi Arabia, Mr. Zelensky appealed to Arab leaders assembly there to not bend to Russian affect.
On the summit that started on Friday, the G7 leaders pledged to toughen punishments on Moscow and redouble efforts to choke off funding for its conflict. In his conferences with the leaders, Mr. Zelensky can have an opportunity to debate the conflict with a few of his staunchest backers: the U.S., Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Canada and Italy. The leaders of India, Brazil and different nations which have been reluctant to assist Ukraine will even attend the summit, as observers.
Mr. Zelensky has more and more demonstrated a willingness to enterprise in a foreign country, touring to completely different European capitals this month to safe guarantees of extra highly effective arms to bolster a deliberate counteroffensive in opposition to Russia.
Mr. Zelensky shall be making his enchantment in a metropolis that serves as a sobering reminder of the devastation of conflict, within the midst of a battle that has at occasions heightened worries of a possible nuclear conflict.
In a go to on Friday to Hiroshima Peace Memorial, the positioning of a World Warfare II atomic bombing, G7 leaders “reiterated their place that threats by Russia of nuclear weapon use, not to mention its use, are inadmissible,” Japan’s international ministry stated in an announcement.
