Highlights: After three days of meetings in Japan, the G7 summit ended on Sunday 21 May with final press conferences. The summit was supposed to address topics such as China's "economic coercion" and climate change. But the surprise arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky monopolized the event. The G7 timetable was already very tight, it was necessary to juggle and compress the programme of bilateral meetings, says RFI's special envoy to Hiroshima, Vincent Souriau. It was also aimed at expanding the coalition of support for Ukraine to the countries of the South.

After three days of meetings in Japan, the G7 summit ended on Sunday 21 May with the final press conferences of the leaders of the seven most industrialised countries on the planet.

Volodymyr Zelensky monopolized the G7 in Hiroshima, to the detriment of the initial program

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses with G7 leaders just before a summit session, in Hiroshima on May 21, 2023 © Susan Walsh/AP

Text by: RFI Follow

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After three days of meetings in Japan, the G7 summit ended on Sunday 21 May with final press conferences by the leaders of the world's seven most industrialised countries. While the summit was supposed to address topics such as China's "economic coercion" and climate change, the surprise arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima monopolized the event.

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First, there is this highly orchestrated arrival of the Ukrainian president, the leak of his visit in the American media on the first day of the summit, his unprecedented stage in Saudi Arabia, and the landing with fanfare in Hiroshima that mobilized all the media attention, reports our special envoy to Hiroshima, Vincent Souriau.

The G7 timetable was already very tight, it was necessary to juggle and compress the programme of bilateral meetings. For example, French President Emmanuel Macron and his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo were supposed to see each other for 45 minutes: they had only a quarter of an hour, because Volodymyr Zelensky - landed by surprise a day and a half after his counterparts - wanted to see everyone one-on-one before leaving.

Even before the arrival of its president, Ukraine dominated the debates, whether it was the new sanctions against Russia or the delivery of the F16 aircraft by the United States. Joe Biden says he has received assurances from his Ukrainian counterpart that the American-made fighter jets will not attack Russian territory.

► Read also: Delivery of F16: "It is to better tell the Ukrainians that if the counter-offensive does not succeed completely, it will be necessary to negotiate"

Joe Biden announces new weapons and ammunition to Ukraine

In addition, US President Joe Biden on Sunday announced the supply of new US weapons and ammunition to Ukraine during his meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky. These new shipments will include "ammunition, artillery, armored vehicles," said the tenant of the White House.

Today, I'm announcing the next phase of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, which includes more ammunition, artillery, and armored vehicles to bolster Ukraine's capabilities on the battlefield. The United States continues to help Ukraine respond, recover, and rebuild. We also support you in your quest for a just peace. Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable.

Joe Biden announces new deliveries to Ukraine

Nicolas Feldmann

Ukrainian attempt at rapprochement with the countries of the South

Beyond the delivery of weapons, Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the summit of the world's greatest powers was also aimed at expanding the coalition of support for Ukraine to the countries of the South, according to our correspondent in Kiev, Stéphane Siohan.

The task is only partially successful. While India and Brazil still refuse to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Zelensky was able to meet Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi for the first time, who promised him that India would do "everything possible" to settle the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

He could also meet one-on-one with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday and explain his positions. Very reluctant until now to condemn the Russian invasion, the Brazilian figure had said last month that the United States must stop "encouraging war" in Ukraine.

"China-U.S. relations are expected to thaw very soon"

However, the summit was also supposed to tackle the issue of climate change, announced as crucial: it was not to be.

Moreover, the G7's warning to China, half-heartedly accused of "economic coercion," went almost unnoticed. US President Joe Biden did say something about Beijing, announcing that "relations between China and the United States should thaw very soon."

We are not looking to decouple from China, we are looking to eliminate risks and diversify in our relationship with China. It means acting to diversify supply chains, so that we are not dependent on one country or another for the products we need. It means resisting economic coercion together, and countering practices that hurt our workers. That means protecting advanced technologies that are critical to our national security. The G7 agrees on all these points.

Joe Biden announces future thaw in China-US relations

Christophe Paget

>> READ ALSO: Ukraine: communication war around the control of Bakhmut

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Ukraine
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Russia
United States
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Brazil
India
China

Volodymyr Zelensky monopolized the G7 in Hiroshima, to the detriment of the initial program

Volodymyr Zelensky monopolized the G7 in Hiroshima, to the detriment of the initial program

Joe Biden announces new weapons and ammunition to Ukraine

Ukrainian attempt at rapprochement with the countries of the South

"China-U.S. relations are expected to thaw very soon"

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