20-5-2023 (Tokyo) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Hiroshima on Saturday to participate in the Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ summit taking place in the city. This follows his recent achievement of long-awaited US backing for access to advanced fighter jets and pilot training in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Kyiv’s air defenses successfully repelled a fresh Russian drone attack overnight, although falling debris caused some damage in the Ukrainian capital, as reported by the military on Saturday.
Multiple media outlets broadcast live footage of President Zelensky disembarking from a French government aircraft upon his arrival in Hiroshima. Earlier on Saturday, Japan, this year’s chair of the G7, announced Zelensky’s in-person attendance at the summit, held in the world’s first city targeted by an atomic bomb. The presence of President Zelensky comes at a time when nuclear threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin have created unease in the West.
According to an update on Telegram by the head of Kyiv’s civil and military administration, Serhiy Popko, Kyiv’s air defenses effectively repelled a large-scale drone attack by the aggressor during the night. “All detected air targets were destroyed by our air defense forces. No strikes were carried out on Kyiv!” Popko stated. However, falling debris sparked a fire in a residential building in the Darnytskyi district, which was extinguished without any casualties. Damage was also reported in three other districts, but no immediate casualties were reported. Popko mentioned that this was the 11th air attack on Kyiv since the beginning of May. At 12:45 am Saturday (2145 GMT Friday), the Ukrainian army reported drone activity heading towards the Kyiv region, with explosions reported in the region and the city of Chernihiv, northeast of Kyiv.
President Zelensky’s arrival in Hiroshima signifies his participation in the G7 talks, where he aims to confer with allies, including US President Joe Biden, and garner support from key unaligned powers such as India and Brazil.
Zelensky’s unexpected presence, initially expected to be through video, comes after a stop in Jeddah to address the Arab League. According to a diplomatic source, he will arrive in Hiroshima on a French plane in the afternoon. This visit follows a breakthrough in Zelensky’s ongoing efforts to persuade Washington of Ukraine’s requirement for F-16 fighter jets.
While momentum had been building for the provision of these aircraft, US support is crucial as their approval is legally necessary for the re-export of US equipment purchased by allied nations. Previously, the United States cited the lengthy pilot training process and high costs as reasons for not supplying the jets, asserting that there were more cost-effective methods to enhance Kyiv’s air defenses. However, F-16s now appear likely to join the list of advanced systems, including Western tanks and long-range weaponry, that Ukraine’s supporters have agreed to provide, overcoming initial reluctance.
In response to sanctions imposed by Washington, Russia announced on Friday that it had banned the entry of 500 Americans, including former President Barack Obama. Concurrently, the US imposed sanctions on over 300 targets as G7 leaders convened in Japan, aiming to penalize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. During the G7 summit, US President Joe Biden informed the leaders that Washington would support the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, which could be supplied to Kyiv.
On Friday, President Zelensky met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and expressed gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s support of Ukraine’s sovereignty, as stated by the presidential office.
