Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was welcomed to Hiroshima for a visit to the G7 summit by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said that the trip demonstrates how, despite Russian aggression, freedom and sovereignty will never succumb. Additionally, Joe Biden has allowed allies to send F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, and Britain is due to begin training Ukrainian pilots to boost their combat air capabilities within the next two months. Russia has warned the West that if it supplies the jets, it will be taking "colossal risks".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s arrival at the G7 summit in Japan on Saturday resulted in world leaders and China targeted in an indirect warning. G7 leaders issued a statement condemning Russia and highlighted their opposition to "economic coercion", linking it to China's alleged behaviour towards other countries. The ongoing war in Ukraine was top of the summit's agenda and Zelensky's last-minute attendance added weight to discussions. The appearance by the Ukrainian president was hastiliy arranged, with officials sending special flights to pick him up when he declared his intention. The summit hosted several emerging economies in the Global South, as well as India and Australia, and the leading topic of consideration involved nuclear non-proliferation and climate change. The final statement drew attention to G7 support of South East Asian and Pacific countries, which China has been wooing, stating they wanted "constructive and stable relations" with China.
Russian defenss ministry of Monday claimed that forces of the Wagner private army, with the support of Russian troops, have seized the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Despite this claim, Ukrainian authorities have said fighting for the city is still continuing. The eight-month battle for the city in eastern Ukraine is the longest and probably most bloody of the conflict in Ukraine. After Russia switched its focus to the Donetsk region following a botched attempt to seize Kyiv early in the February 2022 invasion, Moscow’s troops tried to take Bakhmut in August but were pushed back.
Around 2,000 Russian flights have taken place over the past 15 months using out-of-date safety equipment due to a shortage of components caused by Western sanctions, said Victor Basargin, head of Rostransnadzor, the Russian government's transport watchdog. Basargin indicated that smaller airlines had been most affected, not major carriers such as Aeroflot, which has released a statement to say that all spare parts undergo strict quality control and certification checks. The Moscow government recently legalised "cannibalisation" which enables airline engineers to salvage serviceable parts from grounded planes to keep others in the air to meet the shortfall of maintenance components.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has said that it is not distracted by Russia listing its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, on a wanted list. This comes after Khan issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating alleged responsibility for war crimes related to the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. The ICC called Russia’s move an attempt to destabilise the court’s lawful mandate, stating that it would continue to “deliver on its independent mandate”. Russia, which is not part of the ICC, dismissed the warrant against Putin as void.
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.
While some aspects of Ukraine's military response to the Russian invasion have been prompt, others have been slow. The UK, the US and Poland have given military support to Ukraine swiftly, but other countries have been extremely slow. Defence companies are ready to step up and Ukraine needs a more flexible pipeline of orders. Any country has the right to defend itself and ask its friends for help. NATO should review the commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence by next year; a new minimum of 2.5% should be the target to ensure democracy is safe.
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.
The Kremlin has targeted several prominent enemies of former US President Donald Trump as part of its latest sanctions list. The move is thought to be an attempt to woo Trump, who has expressed fondness for Russian President Vladimir Putin and has refused to commit to supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Among the 500 names singled out by Moscow is Michael Byrd, the Capitol Police officer who shot pro-Trump protester Ashli Babbitt during the January 6 insurrection. Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s secretary of state, who defied Trump’s request to “find” votes to help him win the 2020 race, is also on the list, as is New York State Attorney General Letitia James, who has targeted Trump and his business in court action. The Kremlin stated that its targets included those “directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called storming of the Capitol”.
Australia’s donation of military support to Ukraine was gratefully received but as other nations increase their contributions, Australia has decreased its aid. The Australian government has provided only a small consignment of uncrewed aerial vehicles to the Ukrainian army in 2023. This shift from “support Ukraine” to “strategic bystanders” is problematic, as the Ukraine faces the Russian onslaught. Beyond the physical, moral support is also required from Australia, including sending their ambassador back to Kyiv. Finally, Australia’s defence and foreign ministers should travel to Ukraine to see the situation personally.
Moldova's President, Maia Sandu, has led a rally in the capital, Chisinau, calling for the country to join the European Union. An estimated 75,000 people turned out, waving EU flags and chanting pro-European slogans. Sandu, who previously accused Russia of supporting opposition in her country, pledged that Moldova would become a member of the EU by 2030 and said the country did not want to be blackmailed by the Kremlin. Moldova became a candidate country in June 2022, alongside Ukraine, following its application last year. EU officials have praised the country's progress towards meeting accession criteria.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke during a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, as part of a wider visit to Japan for the G7 meeting. He used the opportunity to talk about the devastation of war and the need to rebuild, highlighting the ongoing conflict in Ukraine where he said people are struggling to rebuild their homes after Russian strikes. Zelensky's trip comes as the G7 nations consider stepping up pressure on Russia to end the war as they believe the economic damage it is causing could influence other countries to intervene.
US President Joe Biden announced that he will allow American-made F-16 fighter jets to be sent to Ukraine, a move which emphasises Western commitment to Ukraine in the face of ongoing hostilities from Russia. The G7 meeting, which concluded yesterday, considered the situation in Ukraine, with the military aid being seen as a powerful symbol of long-term Western support. Despite Putin's willingness to mobilise for a long-term campaign, a strong sense of patience and commitment amongst Ukraine's allies was recognised by the Financial Times.
The US has given the green light for a coalition to transfer F-16 combat aircraft to Ukraine to replace its fleet of MiGs and Sukhoi jets. The UK and other nations have said they are ready to offer pilot training. The new F-16s could be a turning point in the air battle since they have modern radar and avionics and a highly capable electronic warfare suite. They are a multi-role fighter and would be able to carry the most modern and capable western weapons. Currently, the majority of equipment offered to Ukraine has been about holding the line or stopping endless missile salvos aimed at cities and civilians.
A woman at the Cannes International Film Festival poured fake blood over herself to stage an alleged anti-war protest. The protest took place before the screening of Acide, directed by Frenchman Just Philippot. It was not immediately clear why the demonstration took place at that screening. The woman was wearing a yellow and blue dress along with blue-heeled shoes and was immediately removed from the event by security. It is unclear whether the woman will be charged or what punishment she would face. Organizers of the film festival have reportedly said they are standing in solidarity with Ukraine. It is worth noting that a ban on Russian delegations or film companies connected to the Russian government remains in place at this year’s festival, after first being implemented last year.
Russian private military company Wagner PMC's brutal tactics are suited to the land campaign in Ukraine, particularly that in the destroyed city of Bakhmut, according to Robert Clark of Civitas. Multiple small teams attack heavily fortified positions, and if the first unit is killed another will be sent in, which, although horrific, has proved relatively successful. The terrorists are criminals and former armed thugs released from Russian jails and still expected to earn pardon through fighting. Regular army conscripts, by contrast, are poorly trained boys often conscripted and reluctant to serve.
