Ukraine’s Zelenskyy at center of last day of high-level diplomacy as G7 looks to punish Russia
The Group of Seven wealthy democracies have united Saturday in urging China to pressure its strategic partner Russia to end its war on Ukraine (20 May).
President Joe Biden, left, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, second right, stand with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose for a photo before a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)
President Joe Biden, left, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron, second right, stand with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pose for a photo before a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)
President Joe Biden, third left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, and other G7 leaders pose for a photo before a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, May 21, 2023. Other leaders from right to left, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Zelenskyy, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Council President Charles Michel. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)
President Joe Biden, third left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, and other G7 leaders pose for a photo before a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, May 21, 2023. Other leaders from right to left, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Zelenskyy, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and European Council President Charles Michel. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)
President Joe Biden, left, walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)
President Joe Biden, left, walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the Grand Prince Hotel, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the Grand Prince Hotel, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the Grand Prince Hotel, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the Grand Prince Hotel, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seen in a motorcade vehicle on his way to attend the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ meetings Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Hiroshima, western Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seen in a motorcade vehicle on his way to attend the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ meetings Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Hiroshima, western Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seen in a motorcade vehicle on his way to attend the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ meetings Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Hiroshima, western Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is seen in a motorcade vehicle on his way to attend the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ meetings Saturday, May 20, 2023, in Hiroshima, western Japan. (Kyodo News via AP)
World leaders from G7 and invited countries, top row from left to right, Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva, European Council President Charles Michel, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol. Bottom row from left to right, President of the World Bank David Malpass, Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala pose for a family photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
World leaders from G7 and invited countries, top row from left to right, Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva, European Council President Charles Michel, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, France’s President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol. Bottom row from left to right, President of the World Bank David Malpass, Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala pose for a family photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
U.S. President Joe Biden, from left, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a Quad meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit, at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool Photo via AP)
U.S. President Joe Biden, from left, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a Quad meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit, at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool Photo via AP)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, top center left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden after a group photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, top center left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden after a group photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
From left, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks with France’s President Emmanuel Macron as US President Joe Biden speaks with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as they gather for a group photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
From left, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks with France’s President Emmanuel Macron as US President Joe Biden speaks with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as they gather for a group photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
From left, France’s President Emmanuel Macron arrives as US President Joe Biden speaks with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as they gather for a group photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
From left, France’s President Emmanuel Macron arrives as US President Joe Biden speaks with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as they gather for a group photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz participates in an event on global infrastructure and investment during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, speaks with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, center, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, second right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a a family photo session of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, speaks with Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, center, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, second right, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during a a family photo session of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
President Joe Biden listens during an event on global infrastructure and investment during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends an outreach session of the leaders of the G7 nations and invited countries, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Japan Pool via AP)
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attends an outreach session of the leaders of the G7 nations and invited countries, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Japan Pool via AP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, greets Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva during an outreach session of the leaders of the G7 nations and invited countries, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Japan Pool via AP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, left, greets Managing Director of the IMF Kristalina Georgieva during an outreach session of the leaders of the G7 nations and invited countries, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Japan Pool via AP)
European Council President Charles Michel attends an outreach session of the leaders of the G7 nations and invited countries, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Japan Pool via AP)
European Council President Charles Michel attends an outreach session of the leaders of the G7 nations and invited countries, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Japan Pool via AP)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden during a family photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden during a family photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
Front row from left, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Comoros President Azali Assoumani, back row from left, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take part in a group photo at the Grand Prince Hotel, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan. at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)
Front row from left, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Comoros President Azali Assoumani, back row from left, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau take part in a group photo at the Grand Prince Hotel, during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan. at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool via AP)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden after a family photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
France’s President Emmanuel Macron, left, speaks with U.S. President Joe Biden after a family photo of leaders of the G7 and invited countries during the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool Photo via AP)
President Joe Biden listens as G7 leaders participate in an event on global infrastructure and investment during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Joe Biden listens as G7 leaders participate in an event on global infrastructure and investment during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, second left, of Australia, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, third left, of Japan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, pose for a group photo during a Quad Leaders’ meeting, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Kenny Holston/Pool Photo via AP)
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, second left, of Australia, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, third left, of Japan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, pose for a group photo during a Quad Leaders’ meeting, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, western Japan, Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Kenny Holston/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron during G7 Summit at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, western Japan Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool Photo via AP)
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, right, meets with French President Emmanuel Macron during G7 Summit at the Grand Prince Hotel in Hiroshima, western Japan Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Stefan Rousseau/Pool Photo via AP)
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, center left, his wife Kim Keon Hee, left, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida (R) lay flowers at the Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-bomb near the Peace Park Memorial in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, May 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit Leaders’ Meeting. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, center left, his wife Kim Keon Hee, left, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida (R) lay flowers at the Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-bomb near the Peace Park Memorial in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, May 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit Leaders’ Meeting. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands during a visit to the Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-bomb near the Peace Park Memorial in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, May 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit Leaders’ Meeting. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands during a visit to the Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-bomb near the Peace Park Memorial in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, May 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit Leaders’ Meeting. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, visit the “Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-bomb”, near the Peace Park Memorial in Hiroshima Sunday, May 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit Leaders’ Meeting. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, visit the “Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-bomb”, near the Peace Park Memorial in Hiroshima Sunday, May 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit Leaders’ Meeting. (Yuichi Yamazaki/Pool Photo via AP)
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shake hands during their bilateral meeting at the International Conference Center Hiroshima (ICCH) at the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ meetings Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Hiroshima, western Japan. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shake hands during their bilateral meeting at the International Conference Center Hiroshima (ICCH) at the Group of Seven (G7) nations’ meetings Sunday, May 21, 2023, in Hiroshima, western Japan. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, Pool)
From left, Cook Islands’ Prime Minister Mark Brown, Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani, World Bank President David Malpass, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh walk from the Peace Memorial Museum to a wreath-laying ceremony in the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, May 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the G7 summit. (Takashi Aoyama/Pool Photo via AP)
From left, Cook Islands’ Prime Minister Mark Brown, Comoros’ President Azali Assoumani, World Bank President David Malpass, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh walk from the Peace Memorial Museum to a wreath-laying ceremony in the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, western Japan Sunday, May 21, 2023, on the sidelines of the G7 summit. (Takashi Aoyama/Pool Photo via AP)
President Joe Biden, right, walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)
President Joe Biden, right, walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, May 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, POOL)
HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — World leaders ratcheted up pressure Sunday on Russia for its war against Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the center of a swirl of diplomacy on the final day of the Group of Seven summit of rich-world democracies.
Zelenskyy’s in-person attendance at one of the world’s premier diplomatic gatherings is meant to galvanize attention on his nation’s 15-month fight against Russia. Even before he landed Saturday on a French plane, the G7 nations had unveiled a slew of new sanctions and other measures meant to punish Moscow and hamper its war-fighting abilities.
Ukraine is the overwhelming focus of the summit, but the leaders of Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada and Italy, as well as the European Union, are also working to address global worries over climate change, AI, poverty, economic instability and nuclear proliferation.
Two U.S. allies — South Korea and Japan — continued efforts Sunday to improve ties that have often been hurt by lingering anger over issues linked to Japan’s brutal 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited a memorial to Korean victims, many of them slave laborers, of the Aug. 6, 1945, atomic bombing.
Washington wants the two neighbors, both of which are liberal democracies and bulwarks of U.S. power in the region, to stand together on a host of issues, including rising aggression from China, North Korea and Russia.
Bolstering international support is a key priority as Ukraine prepares for what’s seen as a major push to take back territory seized by Russia in the war that began in February last year. Zelenskyy’s visit to the G7 summit closely followed the United States agreeing to allow training on potent American-made fighter jets, which lays the groundwork for their eventual transfer to Ukraine.
“Japan. G7. Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine. Security and enhanced cooperation for our victory. Peace will become closer today,” Zelenskyy tweeted after his arrival.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that President Joe Biden and Zelenskyy would have direct engagement at the summit. On Friday, Biden announced his support for training Ukrainian pilots on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, a precursor to eventually providing those aircraft to Ukraine.
“It is necessary to improve (Ukraine’s) air defense capabilities, including the training of our pilots,” Zelenskyy wrote on his official Telegram channel after meeting Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, one of a number of leaders he talked to.
Zelenskyy also met on the sidelines of the summit with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, their first face-to-face talks since the war, and briefed him on Ukraine’s peace plan, which calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from the country before any negotiations.
India, the world’s largest democracy, has avoided outright condemnation of Russia’s invasion. While India maintains close ties with the United States and its Western allies, it is also a major buyer of Russian arms and oil.
Summits like the G7 are a chance for leaders to put pressure on one another to align or redouble their diplomatic efforts, according to Matthew Goodman, an economics expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington. “Zelenskyy’s presence puts some pressure on G7 leaders to deliver more — or explain to him directly why they can’t,” he said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the G7 summit for aiming to isolate both China and Russia.
“The task has been set loudly and openly: to defeat Russia on the battlefield, but not to stop there, but to eliminate it as a geopolitical competitor. As a matter of fact, any other country that claims some kind of independent place in the world alignment will also be to suppress a competitor. Look at the decisions that are now being discussed and adopted in Hiroshima, at the G7 summit, and which are aimed at the double containment of Russia and China,” he said.
The G7, however, has vowed to intensify the pressure.
“Russia’s brutal war of aggression represents a threat to the whole world in breach of fundamental norms, rules and principles of the international community. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes to bring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace,” the group said in a statement.
Another major focus of the meetings was China, the world’s No. 2 economy.
There is increasing anxiety that Beijing, which has been steadily building up its nuclear weapons program, could try to seize Taiwan by force, sparking a wider conflict. China claims the self-governing island as its own and regularly sends ships and warplanes near it.
The G7 said they did not want to harm China and were seeking “constructive and stable relations” with Beijing, “recognizing the importance of engaging candidly with and expressing our concerns directly to China.”
They also urged China to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine and “support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.”
China’s Foreign Ministry said that “gone are the days when a handful of Western countries can just willfully meddle in other countries’ internal affairs and manipulate global affairs. We urge G7 members to ... focus on addressing the various issues they have at home, stop ganging up to form exclusive blocs, stop containing and bludgeoning other countries.”
The G7 also warned North Korea, which has been testing missiles at a torrid pace, to completely abandon its nuclear bomb ambitions, “including any further nuclear tests or launches that use ballistic missile technology,” the leaders’ statement said.
The green light on F-16 training is the latest shift by the Biden administration as it moves to arm Ukraine with more advanced and lethal weaponry, following earlier decisions to send rocket launcher systems and Abrams tanks. The United States has insisted that it is sending weapons to Ukraine to defend itself and has discouraged attacks by Ukraine into Russian territory.
“We’ve reached a moment where it is time to look down the road again to say what is Ukraine going to need as part of a future force, to be able to deter and defend against Russian aggression as we go forward,” Sullivan said.
Biden’s decisions on when, how many, and who will provide the fourth-generation F-16 fighter jets will be made in the months ahead while the training is underway, Biden told leaders.
The G7 leaders have rolled out a new wave of global sanctions on Moscow as well as plans to enhance the effectiveness of existing financial penalties meant to constrain President Vladimir Putin’s war effort. Russia is now the most-sanctioned country in the world, but there are questions about the effectiveness.
Russia had participated in some summits with the other seven countries before being removed from the then-Group of Eight after its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
The latest sanctions aimed at Russia include tighter restrictions on already-sanctioned people and firms involved in the war effort. More than 125 individuals and organizations across 20 countries have been hit with U.S. sanctions.
Kishida has twice taken leaders to visit to a peace park dedicated to the tens of thousands who died in the world’s first wartime atomic bomb detonation. Kishida, who represents Hiroshima in parliament, wants nuclear disarmament to be a major focus of discussions.
The G7 leaders also discussed efforts to strengthen the global economy and address rising prices that are squeezing families and government budgets around the world, particularly in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The group reiterated its aim to pull together up to $600 billion in financing for the G7’s global infrastructure development initiative, which is meant to offer countries an alternative to China’s investment dollars.
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Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Elaine Kurtenbach and Mari Yamaguchi in Hiroshima, Japan, and Joanna Kozlowska in London contributed to this report.