The city of Hiroshima, as reported by Reuters – On Sunday, the leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies made it clear that they would continue supporting Ukraine, warning Russian President Vladimir Putin. This came as Putin claimed to have taken control of the eastern city of Bakhmut, a claim that Kyiv refuted.
Over the weekend, the G7 summit held in the city of Hiroshima witnessed a significant development with the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
President Zelenskiy paid his respects at the cenotaph for the victims of the world’s first atomic bombing of a city and expressed his thoughts on the matter. He drew a parallel between the photographs of Hiroshima’s destruction during World War Two and the devastation of Bakhmut and other Ukrainian cities.
During a press conference, he additionally conveyed that there are currently military personnel in Bakhmut and that the Russian military has not yet seized the city.
During the summit, he informed journalists that the beleaguered city in the east, which has been the epicentre of conflict in recent months, has been completely decimated.
According to Zelenskiy, the situation is a tragedy. The area in question appeared devoid of any significant features or items of interest, except for numerous deceased individuals of Russian origin.
On the concluding day of the three-day G7 summit, President Joe Biden of the United States declared a military aid package worth $375 million for Ukraine, encompassing artillery and armoured vehicles.
The individual conveyed to President Zelenskiy that the United States is exerting maximum effort to enhance Ukraine’s defensive capabilities against the Russian Federation.
President Biden affirmed the unwavering support of the G7 for Ukraine, stating, “We stand with Ukraine and assure you that our commitment remains steadfast.”
In a statement published on the Kremlin’s website, Putin celebrated what he deemed a triumph for his forces, characterizing it as the “liberation” of Bakhmut.
The attack on the predominantly flattened urban centre was spearheaded by soldiers affiliated with the Wagner Group, a private military company. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the group’s commander, claimed that his troops had successfully ousted the Ukrainian forces from the final developed zone within the city.
The term ‘frozen conflict’ should be avoided in professional writing.
The other leaders comprising the G7, namely the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Canada, expressed similar views to President Biden’s.
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has pledged his country’s unwavering support to Ukraine for as long as required.
During the G7 summit, President Biden conveyed to the leaders of the member nations that the United States favours collaborative training initiatives for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter aircraft. It is worth noting that while this announcement was made, no assurances were given regarding Kyiv’s procurement of the fighter above jets.
According to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the possibility of providing training on U.S.-manufactured F-16s conveys a message to Russia that prolonging the conflict will not lead to a successful invasion.
The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has announced that training will commence during the summer. This training aims to equip Ukraine with the air force capabilities required for the future.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, noted the significance of the G7 nations’ display of solidarity in their commitment to upholding international law and order during a summit that included Zelenskiy as a guest.
According to Scholz, the primary focus is to assist Ukraine in defence matters. However, it is imperative to establish security guarantees for Ukraine once the conflict has been resolved.
Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have expressed solidarity with Ukraine in rejecting the idea of the ongoing conflict being reduced to a “frozen conflict,” as well as any suggestion of peace negotiations without withdrawing Russian troops.
As the invasion by Moscow has persisted for 15 months, various analysts and diplomats have suggested the possibility of it becoming a protracted stalemate similar to the enduring conflict on the Korean Peninsula. The Korean Peninsula’s northern and southern regions are still in technical warfare, as their armed conflict from 1950 to 1953 concluded with a ceasefire.
The resolution of the conflict in Ukraine mustn’t result in a state of frozen conflict, as this could potentially pave the way for future hostilities.
During the Hiroshima summit, President Zelenskiy utilized the opportunity to advocate for backing from other participants, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who have yet to pledge their support.
Mitigate risk from China.
One of the primary messages conveyed during the G7 summit was the unwavering commitment to assist Ukraine in repelling Russia’s invasion. Another important message that emerged was the apprehension regarding China’s role as a trading partner.
On Sunday, President Biden convened with the leaders of Japan and South Korea to deliberate on military interoperability and the economic coercion they are encountering from China, according to a statement from a U.S. official.
The G7 leaders had previously established a collective strategy towards China to mitigate risks rather than sever economic ties with the nation, which is widely recognized as the world’s manufacturing hub.
The G7 has issued a statement emphasizing the significance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese military exercises in the region have sparked apprehension regarding the safety of Taiwan, a democratic, self-governed island that China considers its territory.
The ministry has asserted that the statement has overlooked China’s concerns and has accused the G7 of launching an attack on China and meddling in its internal affairs, including those related to Taiwan.