Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the G7 summit in Hiroshima

 

Tom Ambrose (now) and Adam Fulton (earlier)

Sat 20 May 2023 11.21 BST

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/may/20/russia-ukraine-war-live-moscow-renews-air-attacks-on-kyiv-biden-to-meet-zelenskiy-at-g7-summit

 

From 3h ago

08.58 BST

G7 leaders condemn Russia's 'brutal' war on Ukraine, calling for 'lasting peace'

The G7 has condemned Russia’s “brutal” war on its neighbour Ukraine “in the strongest possible terms”, calling it a “serious violation of international law”, in its final communique from this week’s summit.

 

As part of the statement, the world leaders called for “just and lasting peace” and recommitted their intention to provide Ukraine with military, financial and humanitarian support.

 

Here is the section on the war in Ukraine:

 

We once again condemn in the strongest possible terms the war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine, which constitutes a serious violation of international law, including the UN Charter.

 

Russia’s brutal war of aggression represents a threat to the whole world in breach of fundamental norms, rules and principles of the international community. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes to bring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.

 

We issued the G7 leaders’ statement on Ukraine, and with the clear intention and concrete actions set forth in it, we commit to intensifying our diplomatic, financial, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, to increasing the costs to Russia and those supporting its war efforts, and to continuing to counter the negative impacts of the war on the rest of the world, particularly on the most vulnerable people.

 

Updated at 09.00 BST

21m ago

11.17 BST

The British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, has met Volodymyr Zelenskiy at the G7 summit in Hiroshima after the Ukrainian president closed in on obtaining the F-16 fighter jets he wants to fight off Russia.

 

“Good to see you,” the prime minister said, slapping him on the back after they greeted each other with an embrace. “You made it.”

 

Asked by reporters if it was a good day for Ukraine, Zelenskiy smiled, nodded and said “thank you so much”.

 

He is on course to receive the boost of being donated advanced fighter jets after the US president, Joe Biden, authorised western allies to transfer them to Kyiv.

 

Updated at 11.21 BST

1h ago

10.29 BST

Moscow warns west against sending jets to Ukraine

Western countries will be running “colossal risks” if they supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets, the Tass news agency quoted the Russian deputy foreign minister, Alexander Grushko, as saying on Saturday.

 

The US president, Joe Biden, told G7 leaders on Friday that Washington supports joint allied training programs for Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters, senior US officials said.