Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky got face time with several G-7 leaders in Hiroshima, Japan, Saturday, including Indian President Narendra Modi, who has recently stepped up purchases of Russian energy.
Zelensky’s splashy arrival at the economic summit came as the leaders of the world’s largest economies pushed China to use its influence to end the 15-month Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“We call on China to press Russia to stop its military aggression, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine,” the leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies said in a joint statement.
The communique, which said the G-7 nation countries seek to have “constructive and stable relations with China,” came on the second day of a summit that has focused heavily on Ukraine’s continuing battle with Russia.
The missive was issued shortly after Zelensky touched down in a French government aircraft, briskly trotting down the stairs of the plane wearing his signature olive green.
“Japan. G7. Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine,” the Ukrainian president tweeted moments later. “Security and enhanced cooperation for our victory. Peace will become closer today.”
Zelensky’s meeting with Modi marked their first in-person conversation since the February 2022 Russian invasion.
In addition to being a reliable customer for Russian energy, India continues to seek weapons from Moscow.
Zelensky thanked Modi for humanitarian aid India has sent to Ukraine, according to a statement released after their meeting.
He also laid out a proposed peace plan — including the full withdrawal of Russia’s troops and restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, plus security guarantees from other countries — and asked Modi to support his proposals.
“I don’t consider [the war] to be a political or economic issue,” Modi told Zelensky, the news agency ANI reported. “For me, it is an issue of humanity, issue of human values.”
Zelensky’s Twitter account kept up a running tally of G-7 leaders who gave him face time Saturday, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and others. A meeting with President Biden was also expected.
But President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil was on the fence about sitting down with the Ukrainian leader, Bloomberg News reported — fearful of angering Russia and China, two of Brazil’s major trading partners.
Zelensky won a significant victory Saturday when White House officials confirmed the US would allow allied nations to send F-16s to Ukraine and that the United States would train Ukrainian pilots to fly the fighter jets.
“We have delivered what we promised,” Jake Sullivan, Biden’s national security adviser, told reporters. “We have given Ukraine what it needs based on close consultations between our military and theirs. And now, we have turned to discussions about improving the Ukrainian air force as part of our long term commitment to Ukraine’s self-defense.”
With Post wires.