Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will personally attend the G7 summit in Japan, officials said, as Rishi Sunak and allies try to ramp up pressure on Russia.
The Ukrainian president will attend the summit in Japan on Sunday, it is understood, as Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned ‘we are not leaving’.
It may put Zelensky in touch with Indian Narendra Modi and Brazilian Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who have not resisted the invasion like their Western allies.
Zelensky has been meeting with many Western politicians lately, including Sunak in Checkers on Monday.
But it would be an opportunity for him to build stronger ties with India’s prime minister, who has remained neutral, and Brazil’s president, whom the US accuses of “parrot” Russia propaganda.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will personally attend the G7 summit in Japan, officials said, as Rishi Sunak (pictured together in Britain on May 15) and allies try to ramp up pressure on Russia
A Ukrainian soldier from a 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, fires a mortar at his position on a frontline, amid the Russian assault on Ukraine, near the town of Bakhmut on Thursday
A Ukrainian Army Grad multiple rocket launcher fires rockets at Russian front-line positions near Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Wednesday
Attending the G7 – the group from which Russia was expelled due to its 2014 annexation of Crimea – would also be another show of solidarity.
Earlier, Mr Sunak announced that Britain is banning Russian diamonds in a new wave of sanctions to put pressure on Russia, which will also ban imports of Russian-sourced copper, aluminum and nickel.
There has been uncertainty whether the EU will go as far as Britain on diamonds, as the trade is particularly lucrative for Belgium, but Sunak said he is “hopeful and confident” that his allies will follow suit.
After signing a new defense and security pact with Tokyo, Mr. Sunak visited the ruins of the atomic bomb dome with his Japanese counterpart, Fumio Kishida, to reflect on the atomic devastation of World War II.
Talks between G7 allies, including US President Joe Biden and France’s Emmanuel Macron, will focus on military and economic support for Ukraine as they try to show a united front.
Mr Sunak told Sky: “Russia needs to know that we and other countries remain steadfast in our determination to support Ukraine, not only here and now with the resources it needs to protect itself, but also for the long term.” ‘
It may put Zelensky in touch with Indian Narendra Modi (pictured) and Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who have not resisted the invasion like their Western allies
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (pictured arriving at Hiroshima airport on Friday ahead of the G7 summit) has been accused by the US of ‘pegging’ Russian propaganda
He added to ITV News: ‘They can’t just outlive us in this conflict. One of the common topics of conversation I will have and have had with my fellow leaders is about the longer-term security agreements we have made in Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression.”
The UK is also preparing new individual sanctions against 86 people and companies to put further pressure on the Russian president and his supporters.
The diamond export industry was worth more than £3 billion to Russia by 2021, but No. 10 admitted direct imports have been low since British state miner Alrosa imposed sanctions last year.
Britain’s move will put pressure on reluctant allies to follow suit.
Mr Sunak told the BBC: ‘I am hopeful and confident that our partner countries will follow suit as they have done when we have done this before, that will make the sanctions more effective and ensure that Russia pays a price for its illegal activities. ‘
The three-day summit – which also includes Germany, Italy and Canada – will include talks on economic stability and Taiwan’s security in the face of Chinese aggression.
Mr. Sunak’s official spokesman said: “Protecting against economic coercion is something the prime minister is pushing for.”
Sunak told reporters traveling with him in Japan on Sunday that he has seen “positive” moves from India, but that they should keep dialogue open with Modi and Da Silva.
“One thing we have to keep doing is talking to countries like India and also Brazil, that will be in that second part of the summit, which is a good thing,” the prime minister said.
India is represented at the G7 summit as it is the current G20 president, while Brazil is invited as a guest.