Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was in Japan on Saturday to attend a summit of seven major powers that brings together the leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies.
“Japan. G7. Important meeting with Ukrainian partners and friends. Strengthening security and cooperation for our victory. Peace will come closer today.” Zelensky tweeted after arriving.
President Zelensky met with several G7 leaders, including Italy, Britain and France, in Hiroshima on Saturday. He also met with the Indian Prime Minister, who has maintained relations with Russia and the West during the war.
The White House said hours after the G7 working meeting on Ukraine that Biden would meet with Zelensky during the summit on Sunday.
At the Biden Summit:Biden Says U.S. Can Avoid Default and Raise Debt Ceiling at G7 Summit in Japan
The G7 leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union issued a joint statement condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and pledging to step up pressure for peace.
“Russia’s brutal war of aggression violates the basic norms, rules and principles of the international community and poses a threat to the whole world. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine as long as it is needed,” the group said.
G7 leaders also called on China to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Developmental status:
Basketball star Britney Griner made her WNBA season debut on Friday after being jailed in Russia. Before the game, Phoenix coach Vanessa Nygaard announced the number of days until Griner’s release in December as part of a high-profile prisoner exchange. “Today is a day of joy,” said Nygaard.
・Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. Travel ban for 500 AmericansIncluding former President Barack Obama, several senators, and White House officials. The list also includes late-night TV hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers.
For the second time, the Russian government has refused a request from US officials to meet Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovic, who has been detained in Russia since his arrest in March. The Wall Street Journal announced on Friday. Gershkovic was imprisoned on espionage charges during his travels, an allegation denied by his employer and the U.S. government. The United States declared Mr. Gerszkovic unjustly detained.
∙ In a speech Friday at the Arab League summit in Saudi ArabiaPresident Zelensky called on Arab countries to ensure the release of Ukrainians detained in Russia and to “cooperate in the protection of the Ukrainian population, including the Ukrainian Muslim community.”
Russian leader Wagner claims control of Bakhmut. Ukrainian official ‘not true’
General Wagner of the Russian Private Army said Russian forces had captured the city of Bakhmut on Saturday after more than 200 days of fighting in the area. But Ukrainian officials denied the allegations, saying it was the longest fighting of the war.
Wagner representative Evgeny Prigozhin said in a video posted to Telegram that around noon on Saturday Bakhmut was completely under Russian control.
However, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Marial said heavy fighting continued.
“The situation is critical,” she said. “At this time, our garrison is in control of certain industrial and infrastructure facilities in the region.”
Ukrainian Eastern Army spokesman Serhiy Cherevati told The Associated Press that claims that Russia had taken over the city were “not true.”
“Our forces are fighting in Bahmut,” said Cherevati.
Corps of Marine veteran killed in Ukraine airlifted to US
The remains of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who disappeared in Ukraine in 2022 were flown back to the United States on Friday.
A Turkish Airlines plane carrying the body of retired Marine Colonel Grady Krupasi landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Friday evening. The body will be flown by private jet to Kurupasi’s hometown of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Megan Mobbs, president of the Weatherman Foundation, which led the efforts to recover Mr. Kurpathi’s remains, said: “There is an unspoken bond between those who serve in uniform. The American people will carry any burden to get you home.” . ”
A 50-year-old Iraq war veteran, Kurpasi volunteered to help evacuate Ukrainian residents in February 2022 and has since continued to fight in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. He was declared dead by the US State Department last month.
US to help Ukrainian pilots train F-16 fighter jets
White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirmed on Saturday that the United States would help train Ukrainian pilots in the F-16 fighter jet and said it would help deliver the fighter plane to Ukraine at a later date.
The decision came after the regime resisted a request from the Ukrainian government to provide fighter jets.
“As training rolls out over the next few months, we will work with our allies to determine when the aircraft will be delivered and by whom and how many,” Sullivan said.
Ukrainian pilots will be trained to fly F-16 fighter jets in Europe, not the United States, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
The U.S. will also give European allies permission to transfer their aircraft to Ukraine, the official said. The training of the Ukrainian pilots is expected to take several months.
U.S.-made aircraft contain classified technology and require export licenses to third countries.
President Zelensky has been lobbying for the development of the fighter, finding a favorable audience in British Prime Minister Rishi Snak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and on Tuesday announced the procurement of the fighter and the Ukrainian pilot. Agreed to form a United Nations for training. The Netherlands said it was open to exporting aircraft.
Contributions: Associated Press; Francesca Chambers, Tom Vanden Book, John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY
