Jacques Serais (special envoy to Hiroshima) / Photo credit: STEFAN ROUSSEAU / POOL
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8:20 p.m., May 20, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, for a surprise visit made possible by France. On the spot, the leader delivered a real diplomatic offensive, in particular with certain emerging countries which still refuse to impose sanctions on Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky wasted no time. During his surprise visit to the G7 summit in Hiroshima, the Ukrainian president multiplied the appointments and was able to discuss with many international leaders. He spoke in particular with the head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, but also with Emmanuel Macron or even the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and that of India, Narendra Modi.
This Sunday, Volodymyr Zelensky will attend a working meeting devoted to Ukraine with the members of the G7 and the invited countries of India, Brazil and Indonesia. Three emerging countries that all have one thing in common: their governments still refuse to impose sanctions on Russia. Nevertheless, Narendra Modi, at the head of the country which has become the most populous in the world ahead of China, assured that New Delhi would do “everything possible” to find a solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
A presence that can “change the game”
For its part, Paris hopes that this diplomatic offensive by the Ukrainian leader will make it possible to move the lines. What Emmanuel Macron wants to believe for whom the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky at the G7 “can change the situation”.
Still, at the same time, the G7’s appeal to China calling on the Middle Kingdom to put pressure on Russia to end its aggression against Ukraine is obviously not appreciated by Beijing. “The G7 trumpets that it intends to move towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous world. But in fact, it is hindering peace in the world,” reacted a Chinese spokesperson.