Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is dominating G7 headlines even before he arrives.
He’s decided to travel thousands of miles to Hiroshima – a calculated security risk that he must believe is worth taking.
“Very important things will be decided there,” said Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council.
“The presence of our president is absolutely essential in order to defend our interests.”
Zelensky has already laid the groundwork for his G7 address. In the last ten days, he has traveled to Italy, Germany, France, and the UK to make sure they had his talking points in hand before they flew to Hiroshima.
The Ukrainian leader has told his Western allies that he wants a “jets coalition”.
So far, he’s had a commitment from the UK that they will help train pilots – but he will want more than that.
Ideally, he wants combat jets.
He may also want to pull aside the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who plans to double his country’s defense budget over the next five years.
Japan has drawn a clear line on the war in Ukraine, joining with other G7 nations to impose sanctions on Russia. Mr. Kishida visited Ukraine in March and has pledged an additional $5.5bn (£4.4bn) in support.
Zelensky will hope that an impassioned plea in person in a Japanese city that has already suffered the horrors of war will have an impact – and prompt world leaders to offer not just aid, but more weapons to help push back Russian troops and end this prolonged conflict.
Even before he gets to the G7, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, is in the news constantly.
He must believe that the calculated security risk of traveling thousands of miles to Hiroshima is worthwhile.
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, predicted that “very important things will be decided there.”
“To protect our interests, our president must be present at all times.”
Zelensky has already started preparing for his G7 address. In the past ten days, he has visited Italy, Germany, France, and the UK to make sure they are familiar with his talking points before they go to Hiroshima.
The leader of Ukraine has expressed his desire for a “jets coalition” with his allies in the West.
he will demand more.
He would like combat jets.
Additionally, he might want to have a private conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who wants to quadruple his nation’s defense spending over the next five years.
Japan has made its position regarding the conflict in Ukraine quite clear, supporting the G7 countries in imposing sanctions on Russia. In March, Mr. Kishida traveled to Ukraine and made a further support offer of $5.5 billion (£4.4 billion).
Zelensky is hoping that making a powerful personal appeal in a community in Japan that has previously seen the horrors of war will have an impact and persuade world leaders to send additional weaponry as well as aid.
