War,-time A Ukrainian official indicated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will make an audacious travel halfway around the world this weekend to attend the Group of 7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, in order to get guarantees for continuous armaments and aid from the world’s wealthiest nations.
Due to the danger of a Russian strike on Zelensky’s flight or convoy, details of his route have been kept vague and strictly guarded.
The G7 leaders currently meeting in Hiroshima, including President Biden and counterparts from Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, will discuss how to stymie Russia’s military effort in Ukraine during the next three days.
According to reports, the G7 would likely address sanctions implementation, whether to deploy F-16 fighter fighters to Kyiv, and the likelihood of armistice or peace treaty negotiations.
Following news reports that Zelensky would attend, Ukraine’s national defense council director, Oleksii Danilov, announced Zelensky’s travel on national television.
“Very important things will be done there; therefore, the physical presence of our president is critical in order to defend our interests,” Danilov explained. “To provide clear proposals and clear arguments regarding events taking place on our country’s territory.”
Zelensky has recently visited the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, with no documented Russian attempts to obstruct his travels.
According to Ukrainian officials, the leaders of India, Brazil, and other nations that have been hesitant to assist Ukraine will attend the meeting as observers, making Zelensky’s attendance all the more vital in convincing them to reconsider their support for Russia.
Prior to the Financial Times breaking the news of Zelensky’s physical participation at the G7, Ukrainian and Japanese news outlets speculated that he would attend the conference online.
Ukraine aims to shift the tide of a conflict that has recently devolved into a grinding battle with little movement as it prepares for an impending counter-offensive to reclaim regions lost to Russia.
“We have a task to maintain the momentum of international support and communication for Ukraine,” Zelensky stated Thursday in his nightly address. “I am certain that we will complete this task.”
