The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has arrived in Japan to attend the G7 summit with United Kingdom Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, and other allies after the United States paved the way for Ukraine to receive F-16 fighter jets.
The Ukrainian president on Saturday morning tweeted, “Japan. G7. Important meetings with partners and friends of Ukraine. Security and enhanced cooperation for our victory. Peace will become closer today.”
The White House said US President, Joe Biden informed his allies at the conference in Hiroshima that it will allow the advanced planes to be donated to Kyiv.
Biden, who is attending the G7 with other members France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Canada, as well as the European Union, also announced training for Ukrainian pilots.
Sunak welcomed the decision from the summit, having pressed allies to provide the Ukrainian president with the jets he has been calling for.
Mr Sunak, on Friday, had tweeted: “Welcome announcement that the US will approve the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
“The UK will work together with the USA and the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark to get Ukraine the combat air capability it needs.
“We stand united.”
The RAF does not have any US-manufactured F-16s. Therefore, Washington must legally approve their export.
Zelensky is expected to take part in meetings with the G7 on Sunday, the group that Russia was expelled from over its 2014 annexation of Crimea, is another show of solidarity from western allies.
Meanwhile, Evening Standard reported that the G7 announced it would establish a new team to root out and counter Russia and China’s use of economic coercion to influence nations’ decisions.
