• 5:03 a.m.: At the G7, Volodymyr Zelensky seeks new diplomatic and military support

Volodymyr Zelensky is to plead this Sunday at the G7 summit in Japan for new diplomatic and military support for Ukraine, with its allies but also with other countries that have so far refused to condemn the Russian invasion such as India and Brazil.

The Ukrainian president is expected to deliver a speech in Hiroshima, in this Japanese city victim of the first atomic bombing in history in 1945 and has since become a global symbol of peace.

His visit in person put the Russian invasion of Ukraine back at the centre of the G7 debates, overshadowing other summit themes such as the relations of the main industrialised democracies with China.

Volodymyr Zelensky met on the spot with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who promised him that India would do "everything possible" to settle the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, as well as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a bilateral meeting Sunday morning.

The Ukrainian president could also meet this Sunday one-on-one with Brazilian President Lula, who has so far been very reluctant to condemn the Russian invasion – he said last month that the United States must stop "encouraging war" in Ukraine.

  • 3:46 am: Volodymyr Zelensky's presence at the G7 is "a way to build peace", says Emmanuel Macron

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's presence at the G7 summit in Hiroshima is "a way to build peace," French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters in Japan.

Putting a French plane at the disposal of the Ukrainian leader to transport it first to the Arab League summit, then to the G7 in Japan, is "the France building peace and seeking solutions," added the French president.

According to him, the passage of Volodymr Zelensky in Jeddah, Friday, allowed him "to have a very clear support from Saudi Arabia and several powers in the region", "which is a real turning point".

At the G7 in Hiroshima, the Ukrainian president will also "speak to several world powers that are sometimes exposed to only one speech," said the French president in reference to non-aligned countries such as Brazil and India, guests of the summit, which are part of the group of emerging countries with Russia.

"It avoids a division of the world between those who clearly support Ukraine and those who say they support peace but sometimes without knowing what it means behind it," he added. Emmanuel Macron called on the world not to be satisfied with a possible ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow. It would be "a mistake for all of us", because "experience has taught us that a frozen conflict will be a war for tomorrow", said the French resident.

A plane in the colors of the French Republic arrived in Hiroshima.

On board, the Ukrainian delegation to the G7 will work with us and our partners.

For the victory of Ukraine.
For the return of peace in Europe. pic.twitter.com/1D6n8jCaEN

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 20, 2023

  • 1:32 a.m.: Vladimir Putin congratulates Wagner and the Russian military on the capture of Bakhmut (Russian news agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday night congratulated the Wagner mercenary group and the Russian military on their claimed capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, according to a Kremlin statement quoted by Russian news agencies.

"Vladimir Putin congratulated Wagner's assault units as well as all the servicemen of the units of the Russian Armed Forces who provided them with the necessary support and (who covered their flank), for the completion of the operation (which liberated Artemovsk," using the Soviet name of Bakhmut, TASS news agency reported, citing the Kremlin statement.

  • 00:50: Russian army says Bakhmut is "fully liberated"

The Russian military said Saturday night that Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine, had been "fully liberated" after the longest and bloodiest battle in the country since the launch of the Russian operation in February 2022.

"As a result of the offensive actions of Wagner's assault units, with the support of artillery and aviation of the 'South' unit, the liberation of the city of Artemovsk is total," the Russian Defense Ministry said, using the Soviet name Bakhmut. A few hours earlier, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, had claimed responsibility for the capture of this city of Bakhmut, epicenter of the fighting.

>> Read also: The battle of Bakhmut, symbolic or strategic issue?

  • The essentials of the day of May 20

The leader of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner claimed responsibility for the capture of the city of Bakhmut on Saturday. For its part, Kiev said it still controlled some areas in the city, while judging that the situation on the ground was "critical".

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Japan for a surprise attendance at the G7 summit. He met several heads of state and government, including Narendra Modi, Georgia Meloni and Rishi Sunak.

With AFP and Reuters

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