The First Day of War in Ukraine: Hiroshima, Japan, During a Cold War with the European Union Secretary of State Oleksiy Danilov
The leaders gathered in Hiroshima — besides President Biden, they include the heads of government from Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Italy; and a top European Union official — will be talking over the weekend about all dimensions of Russia’s war in Ukraine. In addition to questions of when and how to provide Kyiv with the F-16 fighter jets, they may also discuss the possibility of negotiations over an armistice or peace treaty.
Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, told Ukraine’s ICTV on Friday that important decisions will be made in Hiroshima and Zelenskyy’s “physical presence is an absolutely important thing in order to defend our interests.”
“Because when people are far away, across the ocean, they do not always feel and understand what is happening in our country,” Danilov said. “It is the physical presence of our president that is extremely important at such events.”
Zelenskyy is making his first trip to Asia since Russia invaded the country. Hiroshima, destroyed by a nuclear attack in World War II, is also laden with symbolism, as Zelenskyy has warned that nuclear-armed Russia could escalate its war on Ukraine.
I don’t know how to say Japan. G7. Mr. Zelensky wrote about important meetings with friends and partners in Ukranian. “Security and enhanced cooperation for our victory. Today will be a day when peace will become closer.
A red carpet had been rolled out on the tarmac of an airport in Hiroshima, Japan, where live footage on the public broadcaster, NHK, showed Mr. Zelensky stepping off a French plane wearing an olive green-colored hooded jacket — putting to rest intense speculation over whether he would attend the Group of 7 summit virtually or in person. He was immediately whisked away in a black sedan.
He later posted videos of himself meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, both of whom he visited in their own countries last weekend as he embarked on a flurry of trips outside Ukraine to shore up support ahead of an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Early Saturday in Hiroshima, Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security adviser, confirmed reports that the United States and its allies would discuss in the coming months how to supply Kyiv with the jets themselves, despite earlier reluctance by the administration, which feared the move could lead to further escalation. Under current plans, the United States is not expected to send its own F-16s.
He was expected to address G7 leaders on Sunday as part of his continued efforts to marshal more military aid for his country, an appeal that comes in a city that serves as a sobering reminder of the devastation of war.
His appearance was arranged after Mr. Zelensky expressed a “strong desire” to participate in the summit face to face, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
His presence is also a strong rebuff to President Vladimir V. Putin and a reminder of how thoroughly relations with Russia have deteriorated. The Group of 8 ended when Mr. Putin ordered the illegal annexation of Crimea. Russia was suspended from the group and left it entirely three years later.
The G7 leaders have pledged at the summit to toughen punishments on Moscow, and to double their efforts to curb funding for its war. The leaders condemned Russian aggression in a joint statement on Saturday, stressing their pledged support for Ukraine for as long as it takes.