US President Joe Biden, who is also holding addressing parallelly, said that he had received a “flat assurance” from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that he would not use Western-provided F-16 fighter jets to go into Russian territory.
Biden told reporters that F-16 warplanes could, however, be used “wherever Russian troops are within Ukraine and the area.”
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G7 summit 2023 LIVE | 'Bakhmut not occupied,' a defiant Zelensky says
Authored By Wion Web Desk
Published: May 21, 2023, 07:50 AM IST | Updated: May 21, 2023, 05:09 PM IST
General view shows the G7, Partner Countries and Ukraine meeting as a part of the G7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, western Japan May 21, 2023, in this handout photo released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Photograph: (Reuters)
The G7 meet is special for India as it is the first visit to the Japanese city by an Indian prime minister since India conducted nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1974Key Updates
21 May 2023, 4:29 PM (IST)
Zelensky said he has secured “high quality” weapons from everyone at the G7 summit, and added that he was confident that Ukraine would receive F-16 fighter jets, but unsure how many.
Dodging a question about when Ukraine’s counter-offensive would begin, he said, "Russia will feel when we have a counter-offensive."
21 May 2023, 4:27 PM (IST)
21 May 2023, 4:24 PM (IST)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied reports of Brazil, China and India sending weapons to Russia.
He added that it was important to “be united together” to involve everyone in the peace formula.
He said he had met almost all the G7 leaders, but there was a scheduling reason for not meeting with the Brazilian president.
21 May 2023, 4:22 PM (IST)
On gaining new F-16 fighter jets soon from the US and its allies, Mr Zelenskyy says: "Yes, we really have been working for a long time politically with our partners to get the desired outcome of the strengthening of our skies.
"Besides air, we are grateful for that. We are really grateful to the United States of America."
Mr Zelenskyy said that it is important for Ukraine to have pilot training and for their pilots to be "as educated as possible, and as trained and experienced as possible, with huge experience to decrease this process of training" of the new F-16s.
He said he is so far unable to say how many aircraft Ukraine will receive.
21 May 2023, 4:11 PM (IST)
Ukrainain President Volodymyr Zelensky says Bakhmut has still not fallen under Russian forces.
His response came during media interaction following his address.
On Russia's claims it has taken control of Bakhmut, he said: "I cannot share with you tactical views of our military, of our warriors.
"But as of today I can say that the country which is dozens of times bigger than we are, cannot occupy us, and cannot win in this war."
"Now our people are accomplishing a very important mission. They are now in Bakhmut. I will not share where exactly, but Bakhmut is not occupied by Russian Federation as of today."
21 May 2023, 4:11 PM (IST)
Continuing his address to the G7 summit, Volodymyr Zelenskyy says if Russia's actions are left unchecked, "the West will inevitably become a wreck".
"It is only a matter of time before all the criminals in public office want to wage similar wars. If Russia is allowed to keep even a sliver of the territory it occupies, international law will never apply.
He added that "Russia must stop blackmailing the world with radiation and nuclear weapons and hand over the nuclear power plant it is currently occupying to the point control of Ukraine".
Mr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine offers the world salvation from war.
21 May 2023, 4:10 PM (IST)
21 May 2023, 4:04 PM (IST)
US President Joe Biden said that the US will continue to put Taiwan "in a position where they can defend themselves".
He added that there is a "clear understanding" among the US and its allies that if China acted unilaterally on Taiwan there "would be a response".
However, he says he doesn't think there's anything "inevitable" about the notion that there will be a conflict.
21 May 2023, 4:02 PM (IST)
When asked how US will manage its relationship with China amidst its military activity in the Taiwan Strait, Biden said that Biden the US-China agreed to a military hotline between the two nations, before the "silly balloon" that was shot down in American territory and "everything changed in terms of talking to one another".
But he says he thinks relations will "thaw very shortly".
21 May 2023, 3:57 PM (IST)
Addressing on the Ukraine war, Biden says, "Finally we are joined here in Hiroshima by President Zelenskyy - and the G7 reaffirmed our shared and unwavering, let me say it again, our shared and unwavering commitment to stand with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal war of aggression and the war crimes being committed."
He added that together with its partner countries, the G7 "reiterated the need for a just peace that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, both core principles of the UN Charter".
He says "Vladimir Putin will not break our resolve" in supporting Ukraine: "Russia started the war and Russia could end it today by withdrawing its troops from Ukraine's internationally recognised borders and ceasing its assault until then.
"The ability of Ukraine to defend itself is essential to being able to end this war permanently and through diplomacy.
21 May 2023, 2:34 PM (IST)
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Sunday that it was significant that G7 showed solidarity in their intention to uphold international law and order at the summit attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
"It is significant that G7 members were able to show unwavering solidarity with Ukraine by inviting President Zelenskiy to Japan, to reaffirm the importance of a free and open international order based on the rule of law, and to send a strong message to the world of our intention of upholding it," Kishida said, the news agency Reuters reported.
21 May 2023, 2:04 PM (IST)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Sunday that his government would support Ukraine for as long and as much as necessary in its conflict with Russia which includes the training of Ukrainian soldiers and possibly pilots.
Addressing a press conference during the G7 summit in Japan's Hiroshima, Trudeau said "we're always looking to do more" when it came to support for Ukraine.
21 May 2023, 2:00 PM (IST)
US President Joe Biden announced a fresh round of military assistance for Ukraine worth up to $375 million.
He also assured President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the United States was doing all in its power to fortify Ukraine's defences. Biden claimed the military aid package included ammunition, artillery, armoured vehicles, and training when he met with the Ukrainian president in Japan.
Biden continued, "We have Ukraine's back, and I promise we are not going anywhere."
21 May 2023, 1:40 PM (IST)
Having Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attend the G7 leaders and partners in Hiroshima, according to the British prime minister, "sends a powerful message."
The most powerful democracies in the world have strengthened sanctions at the Group of Seven meeting in an effort to penalise Moscow and pressure Russia to stop its 15-month invasion of Ukraine.
Sunak praised US President Joe Biden for his cooperation in agreeing to provide F-16 aircraft and announced that the UK will begin training Ukrainian pilots this summer.
21 May 2023, 1:18 PM (IST)
21 May 2023, 12:52 PM (IST)
21 May 2023, 12:36 PM (IST)
US President Joe Biden and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold bilateral talks in Hiroshima. According to a senior Biden administration official, America and its allies intend to give Ukraine F-16 fighter planes as part of a long-term effort to bolster the nation's security, even if the aircraft may not necessarily come from the United States.
21 May 2023, 11:20 AM (IST)
The last day of the G7 summit in Hiroshima is going on. US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol shook hands and posed for photographs on Sunday.
Washington wishes that the two neighbours, both of which are bulwarks of US power in the region and liberal democracies, should stand together on variousn issues, including rising aggression from North Korea, Russia and China.
21 May 2023, 9:53 (IST)
The Russian and Chinese sides did not take lightly the statements released at the G7 summit, currently being held in the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Moscow was the first to react saying decisions at the G7 meet were aimed at the "double containment of Russia and China". Meanwhile, Beijing said G7's "approach has no international credibility whatsoever".
21 May 2023, 8:12 (IST)
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the G7 was a "way to build peace". Macron said it was an "honour" to make a plane available to take Zelensky, first to an Arab League summit and then to the G7, saying it showed "France building peace and looking for solutions".