Jacques Serais (Special Envoy to Hiroshima) 18:42 p.m., May 20, 2023

It was aboard an Airbus A330 of the French Republic that Volodymyr Zelensky went to the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where the leaders of the seven main industrialized democracies are gathered. A surprise visit orchestrated by the France and which was prepared, in secret, in the last moments.

He was, a priori, not on the guest list. And yet, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky did indeed go to Hiroshima, Japan, where the G7 summit is currently being held. A surprise visit, paid to the seven leaders of the main industrialized democracies, cleverly orchestrated by... France. Off the microphone, several advisers to the Élysée indicate how everything was prepared, in secret, in the very last moments.

Last Sunday, during his visit to Paris, Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with Emmanuel Macron this upcoming summit. But at that time, nothing is tied up yet. It was only at the beginning of last week that Paris made contact with Tokyo. "We were able to convince the Japanese presidency to invite President Zelensky," said a person close to the head of state.

A flight in two stages

Once the invitation was confirmed, Volodymyr Zelensky and his delegation requested the France to ensure safe transportation. "They asked us on Wednesday for a departure on Thursday. We went to pick them up at the Polish border," said one adviser. On board the A330 of the French Republic, Volodymyr Zelensky was able to find a familiar face in the person of Isabelle Dumont, Emmanuel Macron's continental Europe advisor and former France ambassador in Kiev.

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The flight took place in two stages. The aircraft first landed in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after a four-and-a-half-hour flight, to allow the Ukrainian leader to travel to the Arab League summit. The craft then flew towards Hiroshima. A journey of 14 hours during which Volodymyr Zelensky "slept a lot", it is confided, but also prepared with a "very great concentration" this G7 to try in particular to rally to his cause India, Brazil or Indonesia. These three countries, invited on the sidelines of this summit, still refuse to impose sanctions against Russia.