The working visit of the Head of State to Japan to participate in the G7 Summit
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Joseph Biden in Japan
In the framework of the participation in the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with President of the United States Joseph Biden.
The Head of State thanked for the powerful security assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine, which has already amounted to more than $37 billion, as well as for the new military assistance package announced by Joseph Biden worth $375 million.
"A huge gratitude from our people. I am glad that we have such strong relations," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized the decision of the U.S. President to support the international aviation coalition.
The leaders discussed further cooperation to bolster the defense capabilities of our country, as well as the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.
The Presidents exchanged views on the projects of reconstruction and recovery of our country.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also focused on Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration and preparations for the NATO Summit in Vilnius. The Head of State emphasized the importance of obtaining security guarantees for Ukraine before our country joins the Alliance.
In the Japanese city of Hiroshima, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the G7 Summit.
In his speech at the session of the G7-Ukraine Summit, the Head of State expressed gratitude to the leaders of the G7 and all allies and partners for achieving "such a level of cooperation that ensures that democracy, international law, and freedom are respected."
“And the more we all work together, the less likely anyone else in the world will follow Russia's insane path. But is this enough? Democracy needs more. I think we need the clear global leadership of democracy. This is the main thing that we provide with our cooperation,” the President emphasized.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the leaders for providing Ukraine with reliable air defense systems that helped protect civilian and strategic infrastructure from Russian missile attacks and save lives.
“Together we’ve saved thousands and thousands of lives of Ukrainians from Russian missiles,” he said.
The Head of State also noted the decision to train Ukrainian pilots on modern fighter jets, which is an important component of the air shield.
“We are now on the path to eliminating the capability gap. When our pilots know the F16 and when these aircraft appear in our skies, it will matter not only for Ukraine. This will be a historic moment for the entire security architecture in Europe and the world,” the Head of State emphasized.
According to him, every decision taken to protect Ukraine during the 15 months of full-scale Russian aggression guarantees the preservation of the international rules-based order. Such decisions include the formation of defense support coalitions, sanctions against the aggressor, protection of the energy and food markets, ensuring financial stability, etc.
“As a house grows from bricks, so does freedom grow from our decisions – we guarantee it. We, the democracies. And our response, in fact, is a basis for mandatory rules for preventing aggression. Ukraine emphasizes the principle of preventive security. That’s why our proposals for the package of security guarantees for Ukraine – when they become operational – will become the peacekeeping factor. And not only for us,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
He personally thanked the leaders present for their support of Ukraine: U.S. President Joseph Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
At the same time, the Head of State emphasized that Ukraine expects clear signals on the issue of Euro-Atlantic integration and provision of security guarantees prior to NATO membership at the Summit in Vilnius.
He also called for a detailed discussion of steps to implement the Ukrainian Peace Formula.
During a conversation with the participants of the G7 Summit Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the ceasefire proposals contained in the peace initiatives of some parties are erroneous and help Russia avoid isolation in the world, although it is still not interested in ending the war.
According to the Head of State, there can be no dialogue with Russia until it leaves the territory of Ukraine within the internationally recognized borders in accordance with the UN Charter.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, any peace initiatives and negotiations should be based solely on the formula proposed by Ukraine. The details of its implementation can be discussed at the Global Peace Summit.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also joined the session of the summit "Towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous world", which was attended by the G7 countries, Ukraine and partner countries: Australia, Brazil, Comoros (Chair of the African Union), Cook Islands (Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)), India (Chair of the G20), Indonesia (Chair of ASEAN), Republic of Korea and Vietnam.
Among the main issues discussed at the G7 summit in Hiroshima were the issue of upholding the international order based on the rule of law and firmly rejecting any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or the threat to use nuclear weapons, as Russia has done; continuation of sanctions pressure on Russia and support for Ukraine; strengthening the G7's work with the countries of the Global South; ensuring energy security in the context of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, etc.
Speaking at the working session of the summit, the President of Ukraine noted: "We all have a chance to become co-authors of peace. This peace will not be for one country alone, just as this war is causing harm not only to Ukraine."
According to him, everyone in the world has felt the destructive consequences of Russia's aggression against our country: some have suffered from skyrocketing food or energy prices, some will be threatened in the event of a disaster at a nuclear power plant occupied by the Russian military, and some know that if Russia successfully seizes Ukrainian territories, their aggressive neighbor will come to their land.
“Our world is vast, but we are all in it together. And this is our shared cause – peace,” the Head of State stressed.
He noted that over the past seven years, Ukraine has held more than 180 rounds of negotiations with Russia in various formats to end the aggression, but the ceasefire didn’t work.
“Thousands of people were killed over those years. Nothing has changed now, except that we, defending ourselves, have significantly weakened Russia. Now it openly wants to freeze the war – not for the sake of tranquility, but for the sake of gaining some time, gaining strength and striking again,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
Therefore, in his opinion, it is necessary to implement the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which is based on international law.
“We have developed the Peace Formula in a way that ensures each of its points is backed by UN resolutions. And in a way that everyone in the world can choose the track they can contribute to,” the President of Ukraine said.
“From Japan to the Arab countries, from Europe to Latin America, we find support for our Formula. And we continue this work,” he added.
The Head of State put forward a proposal to convene a global summit on the Peace Formula in July this year and join efforts to end the war.
“Even if we are separated by distance, we are not decoupled by common understanding: you would defend yourselves if your home was broken-into, if the enemy came at your gate and deports your children, – you would not surrender to the colonizers, you would unite the whole world, you would fight – as we are fighting,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy concluded.
President visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and laid flowers at the memorial to the victims of the atomic bombing
During a working visit to Japan to participate in the G7 Summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
The Head of State watched the museum's exhibitions and left a note in the book of honored guests.
The museum was created by the city to tell people about the tragedy of the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. It opened in 1950. The museum collects the belongings of the dead and other evidence of the atomic explosion, and visitors are told about the events related to the bombing of the city. In the eastern wing of the museum, there are exhibitions showing Hiroshima before and after the explosion, telling about the course of the war and the circumstances that led to the bombing, as well as about the efforts of the residents to completely eliminate nuclear weapons.
In addition, the President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida laid flowers at the memorial to the victims of the atomic bombing.
The memory of the victims was honored with a moment of silence.
The leaders watched the memorial and learned about its history.
The memorial is made in the form of a stone arch in the style of ancient Japanese haniwa clay figures. It contains a symbolic tombstone and a list of all the people who died as a result of the atomic explosion on August 6, 1945. The words "Rest in peace! We will not repeat this mistake!" are inscribed on the memorial.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida
During a visit to Japan to participate in the G7 Summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida.
The Head of State thanked the Prime Minister of Japan for the invitation to take part in the G7 Summit.
“Now is a crucial moment for the fate of peace in Ukraine and for the future of the rules-based world order. It is extremely important that the world has the opportunity to hear Ukraine's voice in Hiroshima,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.
The President praised Fumio Kishida's personal leadership in mobilizing international support for Ukraine, particularly in the framework of Japan's G7 Presidency.
The President thanked Japan for the $7.6 billion package of financial assistance that was allocated earlier.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed gratitude to Japan for the decision to accept wounded Ukrainian servicemen to the Self-Defence Force Central Hospital for treatment and for additional assistance in the form of 100 trucks for the needs of the Armed Forces.
The Head of State informed the Prime Minister of Japan on the situation at the front and expressed gratitude for the support of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. The President emphasized the importance of Japan's support for the sanctions policy against Russia.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Fumio Kishida discussed further steps to assist Ukraine on the part of the Japanese government, in particular, to bolster the material and technical capabilities of the Ukrainian defense forces.
The parties agreed to hold a Ukrainian-Japanese conference on rebuilding Ukraine and to involve private business in this process.
The leaders discussed the possibility of Japanese investment in the production of hydrogen, lithium batteries, automobiles, and energy equipment, as well as in the construction of overpasses and railway infrastructure.
The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine counts on Japan's support for the Global Summit on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula.