Zelensky’s speech, fighters for Ukraine and new sanctions against Russia and its supporters

The main thing about the G7 summit in Japan

From May 19 to 21 in Japanese Hiroshima , the Big Seven summit is taking place. For the first time since the beginning of the Russian full -scale invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky personally took part in the meeting. It was Russian aggression (and ways of combating it) that became one of the central topics of the event. Medusa talks about its main results.

Vladimir Zelensky personally took part in the G7 summit. Zelensky flew to Japan on a French government aircraft from Saudi Arabia, where he spoke in front of the members of the League of the Arab states. Since the beginning of the full -scale Russian invasion, Ukraine participated six times in the meetings of the "Big Seven", but online. This visit is also the first trip of Zelensky to Asia since the beginning of the war.

Speaking at the summit, the President of Ukraine called for the supply of modern fighters to the country. “When our pilots know the F-16 and when these machines appear in our sky, this will be a historical moment for security in Europe and in the world,” Zelensky said . He also met with the leaders of the Seven and with representatives of another eight countries that are not part of the G7, among them India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the Republic of Korea Yun Sok Yol.

Based on the results of the meeting with US President Joe Biden, a new package of military assistance to Ukraine was announced - totaling $ 375 million. In addition, as reported by CNN and Associated Press (AP), on the first day of the Biden summit, he told the G7 leaders that Washington would support the efforts of the Allies to prepare Ukrainian pilots on American F-16 fighters. The decision, when and how many aircraft will be provided to Ukraine, will be adopted in the coming months, AP sources say. Information that the United States will support the Coalition of fighters , later confirmed to reporters the national security adviser to the American president Jake Sullivan. “Zelensky categorically assured me that they will not use it [F-16 fighter] in order to go and advance through the Russian geographical territory, but wherever Russian troops are within Ukraine and in this area, they will be able to do this,” Bayden himself told reporters at the summit.

Vladimir Zelensky commented on the reports of the Founder of PMC Wagner Evgeny Prigozhin and the Russian authorities about the full capture of Bakhmut. To the question of a journalist who sounded like: “Mr. President, does Bakhmut remain under the control of Kyiv? The Russians stated that they captured the Bakhmut, ”Zelensky replied:“ I think not ... But you must understand that there is nothing there. They [Russians] destroyed everything. <...> Today Bakhmut is only in our hearts. " Soon, a spokesman for the President of Ukraine explained that Zelensky answered only the second part of the question and denied the capture of the city. Later, at a press conference in Hiroshima, Zelensky said that "Bakhmut was not captured by the Russian Federation today" and "there can be no two interpretations of this."

The Big Seven confirmed the readiness to support Ukraine “as much as it takes” and adopted new sanctions against Russia. As already existing sanctions, they relate primarily to areas, “crucial for Russian aggression” and the country's economy (for example, restriction of Russian exports of diamonds). And also aimed at monitoring their compliance. The G7 participants intend to strengthen the fight against the supply of weapons to Russia by third countries and the financing of Russian aggression. The purpose of the sanctions is to "marvel the military Russian car with hunger." The US State Department also said that it introduces restrictions on 200 organizations, individuals, courts and aircraft. The new package of sanctions also affects those who are responsible for the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.

The participants of the summit called on China to “put pressure” on Russia so that it “stops military aggression and immediately, without additional conditions, completely withdrew its troops from Ukraine.” And from Iran, they expect refusing the supply of drones of Russia. In other things, it is said in the final commemite, adopted on May 20. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the decisions of the summit are “aimed at double restraint” of countries. The accepted communique also criticized China. “We urge the members of the“ big seven ”to lag behind the trends of time, focus on solving various problems at home, stop uniting in exclusive blocks, restraining and beat other countries <...> and return to the right path of dialogue and cooperation,” the representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said .

"Jellyfish"