The leaders of Japan, South Korea and the US recently held a meeting in Hiroshima, intended to focus on strengthening security cooperation in response to North Korea and China. The brief meeting was held on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit, and came after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol visited a cenotaph dedicated to Korean victims of the 1945 atomic bombing of the city. The meeting between the three leaders came at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with North Korea regularly launching missile tests, and China asserting territorial claims over much of the South China Sea. One of the key topics up for discussion was how best to respond to North Korea’s nuclear program, as well as how to counter China’s aggressive stance. Indeed, officials from Japan, South Korea and the US stressed the importance of strengthening their security alliance during the meeting, and cementing the uneasy relationship between the ideologically disparate nations.
The G7 summit in Hiroshima has ended with discussions focusing on the Ukrainian war and the dominance of China. They also focused on challenges facing developing economies, including Brazil, Vietnam, Comoros and India. Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy made headlines during his time the summit. He was present in the session on Ukraine where it was revealed he had spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. His itinerary for the rest of the day included visiting the Peace Memorial Park and the museum in Hiroshima to remember the atomic bombing of the city. Zelenskyy continues to make the rounds of G-7 leaders. Earlier on the second day of the summit, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the president on the margins of the summit for the first time since Russia's invasion of the Ukraine and shared images of their encounter to his Twitter page.
Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has pushed for global unity and clear leadership in the face of Russia's aggression as he attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Using the opportunity to confront India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Brazil's President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who have maintained diplomatic ties with Moscow, Zelenskyy raised his 10-point plan to end the Ukraine conflict. The US has been a significant backer of Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in 2014, with the Biden administration unveiling a new $375m arms package for Ukraine to aid it in its defence against Russian aggression.
The leader of a Russian mercenary group has claimed it captured Ukrainian city Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk-Oblast region, however, Ukraine continues to dispute this. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said his private army captured the city on Saturday and that his soldiers would create the "necessary defence lines" before handing the city over to Russian soldiers in four days. Reports from the city yesterday indicated that Ukrainian forces were said to have partly encircled the city along the flanks and still part control of it.
Ukraine has denied claims by Russia that it has captured Bakhmut, a key battle city in Ukraine’s east, despite Russian president Vladimir Putin congratulating his troops on the alleged capture. Kyiv has denied the city had been captured, and it was suggested that there was confusion on 22 May amid reports that Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared to have confirmed the city had been captured by Russia while speaking at the G7 summit, but his spokesman later clarified that he had not said so. Speaking alongside US President Joe Biden in Hiroshima, Japan, Zelensky said the Russians had destroyed "everything" in Bakhmut. "You have to understand that there is nothing," he added. "For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing in this place."
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin had posed with fighters on Saturday after claiming to have captured the city. Ukraine denied the city had been taken but said the situation was “critical”. but warned that the situation was "critical". However, it has emerged that Ukrainian troops are partly encircling Bakhmut in the form of a semi-circle and still hold a part of the city, with its deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar saying that Ukrainian troops are continuing their advances along Bakhmut’s outskirts and are still defending industrial and infrastructure facilities in Bakhmut as well as a private sector of the city.
Russia and Ukraine have been in conflict since the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia, with fighting breaking out in the east of Ukraine between Ukrainian troops and separatists backed by Moscow. Russian troops have been regularly accused of supporting the rebels in the conflict and tensions have remained high since a ceasefire was agreed in July 2020, with several border skirmishes taking place, a build-up of Russian forces near the Ukraine border and Russia's annexation of Crimea.
A Ukrainian government spokesperson has denied that Russian troops have captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, following a statement by President Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 summit in Japan. Zelensky had originally appeared to confirm Russian claims that the city had fallen, but a spokesman said the president's response had referred to whether Russia had taken the town, not whether Ukraine had lost it. Russian forces had claimed to have taken the city on 21 August. The battle for Bakhmut had been one of the longest and bloodiest of the conflict so far.
The Ukraine conflict was at the forefront of G7 meetings in Hiroshima, Japan, over the weekend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was among the invitees to the meetings, which discussed China's growing dominance and issues affecting the so-called "Global South." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed the need for a "resilient and diversified" approach to supply chains, while UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak commented on the summit's significance for consolidating peace. Meanwhile, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called for the issue of nuclear weapons to be discussed openly, and said it was "historically significant" for the G7 leaders visiting the Peace Memorial Museum to publish a focus on nuclear disarmament – known as the Hiroshima Vision. The G7 summit heralded a number of warm bilateral meetings, concluding with talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on the conflict on Sunday afternoon.
The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, labeled China the "biggest challenge of our age" following the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Sunak's comments followed the seven countries issuing a strongly worded communique urging China to comply with international rules. In his statement, Sunak praised the unity of the G7 over the issue of global security, describing Beijing as "increasingly authoritarian at home and assertive abroad". At the summit, China and Russia were singled out as potential threats to global stability.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged North Korea to discontinue ballistic missile test launches after visiting the fortified border between the North and South. He also called the tests "a threat to peace and security in this region". Following a trip to the Demilitarised Zone separating the countries, Scholz met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who championed "respect for freedom as a universal value" in the face of challenges to democracy and global supply chain instability. The meeting also saw discussions about furthering "reciprocal and future-oriented cooperation" between the two nations. Scholz's visit follows his attendance at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where leaders agreed a shared approach to China and pledged not to stop supporting Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy received positive feedback after his speech and calls for support at the three-day G7 summit last week. US President Joe Biden revealed an additional $375m military aid package for Ukraine, as other G7 leaders committed to further support for Ukraine as it rises above its war-torn past. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also joined to express support by referencing the symbolic importance of hosting the summit in Hiroshima, where the dropping of atomic bombs nearly erased the city and its inhabitants. Japan’s unwavering support for Ukraine — in contrast with other Asian countries who have refrained from condemning Russia’s 2020 invasion — has increased its profile as mediator and gained Kishida domestic popularity. The summit also marked a rare occasion for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage with Zelenskyy and address the conflict. Experts highlight the importance of united action against the common challenges posed by China and Russia as member states work to translate their collective policy consensus into action.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has returned from the G7 summit in Japan early to respond to flooding that has killed 14 people in northern Italy. Around 36,000 people have fled their homes and many others left without electricity, and agriculture in areas which produce kiwis, peaches and apricots has been hugely affected. The Italian government is to discuss measures to cope with the disaster in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Japanese youths tuning in to G-7 summit coverage on video-sharing site Niconico have been commenting on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's similarities to Tom Cruise and President Joe Biden being a grandpa. They have also been discussing more serious topics, including the war in Ukraine and China's economic influence, but Niconico offers a more immersive experience in which the text comments scroll over the footage itself rather than being positioned to the side. The website's coverage of the summit reflects its development from a niche platform for anime fans and gamers to a broader political and sports site.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed a victory over the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, although Ukraine has denied that the city has fallen to Russian forces. Analysts have characterised the battle for Bakhmut as "the meat grinder", and it has been compared to the battle for Stalingrad, one of the bloodiest of World War II. Pro-Russian propagandists celebrated the city’s capture, but Western analysts have said that it was a Pyrrhic victory that had diverted military resources from other parts of the Russian frontline, currently stretched at a time when the country is increasingly over-stretched.
Following an assurance to President Biden by President Zelensky, Ukraine has been granted access to F-16 fighter jets from the United States to help defend against Russian incursions. The Ukraine’s fleet of aircraft has been outdated for some time, and this upgrade marks a significant increase in military capacity. The news has sparked concerns that the West is providing Ukraine with offensive weapons, prompting fears of a military escalation in the conflict. Ukraine has also secured additional aid from the US in the form of ammunition and is reportedly offered F-16s from some EU nations.
Reports suggest that both Ukrainian and Russian forces claim to control Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The nondescript city has become of great significance in the Russian-Ukraine war due to its symbolic weight. It has seen some of the most intense fighting, and a victory in the city could be a huge morale boost for Russia, which is in need of its first major victory in over 10 months. For Ukraine, Bakhmut has become an example of dogged resistance. The city is also seen as an obstacle for Russian forces, who need to capture Bakhmut to advance further into Ukraine.
The idealistic vision of a world without nuclear weapons came to the fore this weekend following the G7 summit in Hiroshima, with Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida using the forum as the backdrop to call for global peace and the end of nuclear arsenals. The last day of the talks was upstaged by the arrival of Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, determined to raise support for the Ukrainian peace plan and show recalcitrant Republicans in Congress that withholding further assistance from his country would damage US leadership. Plans for a joint communication document that would align the G7 behind the Ukrainian peace plan came to nothing, but its message was transmitted nonetheless. Kishida outlined four principles that the participants had agreed on, with the importance of the United Nations charter and the rule of law, as well as projecting solidarity with Ukraine the main areas of accord.
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has pledged to back the recovery of areas in northern Italy damaged by recent floods which are estimated to have cause damage costing billions of euros and left 14 people dead. Speaking after touring areas around the city of Ravenna, Meloni, who left the G7 summit early to visit affected areas, stated that she would find the resources needed to aid recovery efforts and may call upon the European Union's Solidarity Fund. Agricultural regions, including fruit producers, have also been badly affected.
The United Kingdom Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, has been accused of attempting to organise a private driving awareness course to avoid receiving penalty points on her licence after being caught speeding last year. Braverman, who is also responsible for policing, is expected to be questioned about the matter in parliament on 7 June. She has denied the allegations. Opposition politicians have argued that her actions violated the ministerial code. The Prime Minister’s ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus, is expected to offer advice on the matter. The accusations have come amid a battle over Braverman’s efforts to curb national net migration, which is due to be published on Thursday and is expected to show record high numbers.
The UK government has indicated that a planned law designed to ensure the appearance in court of killers receiving sentences is at risk of being dropped due to comments made by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. The plan followed several cases in which offenders declined to appear in court for their sentencing, provoking public outrage. Dominic Raab, then Justice Secretary, vowed to act following such cases as the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, but resigned following a bullying inquiry. Sunak failed to commit to the law prior to the next general election, due in 2024.
Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has warned that the supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine could involve NATO forces in the conflict. Amid concerns over Russia's response, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte have agreed to build an "international coalition" to develop fighter jet support for Ukraine, while President Joe Biden has endorsed pilot training programmes for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s. Antonov stated that any Ukrainian attack on Crimea would constitute an attack on Russia, adding that the US needed to be aware of Moscow's potential response.
