Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Hiroshima, Japan, today, Saturday, to attend the G7 Leaders' Summit. Upon his arrival, Zelensky met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The two embraced when they met and sat side by side for discussions before the media representatives were escorted out of the venue. Earlier today, Zelensky also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The official account of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter noted that Modi met with Zelensky. Zelensky stated that he "invited India to join the Ukrainian peace formula during his talks with Modi," noting via the Telegram app that they also discussed Ukraine's needs concerning demining and mobile hospitals during their first face-to-face meeting since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A German spokesperson confirmed that "the Ukrainian president met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan today."
Zelensky is scheduled to hold a session tomorrow, Sunday, with G7 leaders before a broader session with attendees from countries in the Global South.
**Call for China to Pressure Russia to Halt Aggression Against Ukraine**
Shortly after Zelensky's arrival, the G7 issued an official statement outlining a common strategy for future engagement with the world's second-largest economy. The G7 leaders stated in the statement: "We call on China to pressure Russia to stop its military aggression and withdraw its forces from Ukraine unconditionally and immediately." They warned that "countries attempting to use trade as a weapon will face consequences," sending a strong message to Beijing in light of practices that Washington claims amount to economic bullying. They emphasized that "we do not fragment or isolate ourselves. At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires managing risks and diversification. A growing China committed to international rules will be of global importance."
**Zelensky in Camouflage Military Uniform**
Live footage broadcast by several media outlets showed Zelensky disembarking from a government plane from France. A video from Japanese media depicted Zelensky wearing a camouflage military uniform, stepping off the French government aircraft and quickly walking towards a waiting vehicle. Moments later, he tweeted: "Japan. G7. Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine. Security and enhanced cooperation for our victory. Peace will become closer today."
The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday morning that Zelensky would attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima tomorrow, Sunday. The statement clarified that Zelensky would hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during his stay and would participate in a session on peace and security alongside G7 leaders and invited countries at the summit.
