Zelensky will attend the G7 summit in person as leaders unveil a new round of sanctions against Russia in a bid to cripple Putin’s war machine and end the invasion
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is now expected to attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima in person
- Zelensky’s involvement has been rumored for days and comes as G7 leaders plan to announce another round of tough economic sanctions on Russia.
- The Financial Times first confirmed that Zelensky would make the trip to Japan
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is now expected to attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima in person, where he is likely to request additional military aid.
Zelensky’s involvement has been rumored for days and comes as G7 leaders plan to announce another round of tough economic sanctions against Russia in a bid to cripple Vladimir Putin to the point of ending the war. in Ukraine.
The Financial Times first confirmed that Zelensky would make the trip to Japan.
“We are increasing economic pressure on Russia. We will continue to expand export controls to make it even more difficult for Russia to maintain its war machine, among other things,” a senior administration official told reporters on a Thursday evening conference call. from Hiroshima.
The sanctions will attempt to tighten the screws on Moscow’s war effort, targeting Russia’s powerful energy sector and other exports that aid the Russian military.
The move comes amid reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is planning an in-person appearance at the gathering of world leaders. He has addressed previous such gatherings virtually.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is now expected to attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima in person, where he is expected to request additional military aid
The senior administration official simply said that Zelensky “has always participated” in past G7 engagements on Ukraine, adding that Zelensky “in some way, shape or form” would engage with the leaders of it.
The sanctions will target Russia and Third World countries receiving exports that help Putin’s war effort. The United States will also add approximately 300 new sanctions against individuals and entities.
“It will be a significant effort that will significantly limit Russia’s access to assets that matter to its battlefield capabilities,” the official said.
The action comes as Western allies seek new ways to tighten already restrictive sanctions against Russia, which include visa restrictions and an oil price cap.
The leaders could also consider tightening the language of already existing sanctions, which could make it harder for Moscow to find loopholes in the sanctions regime.
The G7 is made up of the United States, Japan, Italy, France, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom
G7 leaders will announce tough new sanctions on Russia – above Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right)
New sanctions would aim to cripple Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war machine
US President Joe Biden (L) is greeted by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (R) on Thursday as leaders arrive in Hiroshima for the G7
President Joe Biden arrived in Hiroshima on Thursday evening. Russia’s 15-month invasion of Ukraine is expected to be high on the leaders’ agenda, as are ways to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
“We stand for shared values, including supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereign territory and holding Russia accountable for its brutal aggression,” Biden said when meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Thursday night, in his first formal bilateral summit.
As world leaders traveled to Hiroshima on Thursday to kick off Friday’s summit, Russia launched another attack, firing 30 cruise missiles at different parts of Ukraine.
G7 leaders are said to have been working on a document to reiterate their support for Ukraine, which would be separate from the group’s traditional joint statement at the end of its meeting.
Ukraine, backed by Western arms and money, is expected to launch major counter-offensive operations in the coming weeks in an attempt to retake swaths of its east and south from Russian forces.
Zelensky was in Europe this week to meet leaders from France, Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany.
The fighting in Ukraine continues and has lasted for more than 15 months
At the last gathering of G7 leaders – in Germany in June 2022 – the Gang of Seven imposed a price cap on Russian oil and petroleum products.
Several G7 countries have individual sanctions on Russian oil purchases. Crude is its main export and funds much of Putin’s war effort.
However, countries like India and Turkey have helped to compensate for the lack of European oil purchases by increasing their own.
