Russian invasion
G7 summit shows toughness against Russia and China
In the host country’s view, the G7 showed “unshakeable unity” in supporting Ukraine. photo
© Susan Walsh/AP Pool/dpa
Aggressive Chinese striving for power and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine: the leading western economic powers see their democracy and their prosperity threatened – and act.
The group of seven leading democratic industrial nations (G7) demonstrates determination in dealing with Russia and China. Under the leadership of the USA, Ukraine is being massively upgraded in the fight against the Russian invading army – up to and including the delivery of modern western combat aircraft. Despite their economic dependence on the world’s second-largest economy, the G7 states want to respond to China’s global striving for power with a tougher approach.
The relationship with China and the Ukraine war dominated the three-day G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, to which Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyj surprisingly traveled until Sunday.
Biden pledges more military aid
At the end of the meeting, US President Joe Biden promised his Ukrainian colleague new military aid of around 375 million US dollars (approx. 346 million euros). The package includes ammunition, artillery and armored vehicles. The total value of US military assistance since the war began on February 24, 2022 is now well over $30 billion.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) emphasized that the Group of Seven would help Ukraine for as long as necessary. He does not expect the rapid delivery of modern fighter jets. “What is connected with the training of pilots is a long-term project,” he said.
During the summit, Biden cleared the way to deliver US-built F-16 jets to Ukraine as part of a coalition of several allies. The project is supported by Great Britain, France, Belgium, Denmark and Portugal. First, Ukrainian pilots are to be trained. Later it will be decided when and how many aircraft will be delivered and who will make them available.
Biden said at his final press conference that he had a “blanket commitment from Zelenskyy” not to use the F-16 to advance “into Russian geographic territory.”
Japan: G7 “strong message” on Ukraine
From the point of view of the host country, Japan, the G7 showed “unshakeable unity” in supporting Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s presence helped send “a strong message,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
French President Emmanuel Macron hopes Zelenskyj’s trip to the G7 summit will give countries like India and Brazil more understanding of Ukraine’s position. Both have not clearly sided with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva were guests in Hiroshima.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued an urgent warning about Chinese politics: “China is the greatest challenge of our time to global security and global prosperity.” The leadership in Beijing is becoming more and more authoritarian at home and researcher abroad.
G7: Common position on China
In a summit declaration, the G7 states formulated a common position towards China. The group wants to reduce its economic dependency on Beijing and reduce risks in the supply chains. The G7 also rejected China’s claims to power in the East and South China Seas and warned against military action against democratic Taiwan.
Both Russia and China resolutely rejected the decisions of the G7 countries. “Look at the decisions that are being discussed and made at the G7 summit in Hiroshima today, which aim to double contain Russia and China,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in Moscow on Saturday.
China accused the G7 countries of slander and “interference in internal affairs”. In a sharp reaction, a foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing said the G7 was “suppressing the development of other countries”.
Bakhmut: Russia announces complete capture
At the same time as the G7 summit, Russia announced the complete capture of the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The battle is considered the longest and costliest of the Russian war of aggression. When asked about Bakhmut’s case, Zelenskyy was initially misleading and later denied having conceded defeat: “Bahmut was not occupied by Russia today.”
After completing his deliberations, the Ukrainian visited the Hiroshima Peace Museum, where evidence of the aftermath of the US atomic bombing of August 6, 1945 is on display. Today the city is a global symbol of the horrors of war – and a place of admonition for peace.
Threats to use nuclear weapons “should not be accepted,” said Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons since the beginning of the war against Ukraine.
The G7 of the leading democracies include the USA, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy and Canada as well as the European Union.