Zelensky gets new arms support from world leaders

PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelensky secured more arms, munitions and “unwavering” diplomatic support from G7 allies in Hiroshima yesterday, as Russia claimed victory in the battle for a devastated eastern city.

Meeting leaders from a bloc of rich democracies, Zelensky won a commitment from US President Joe Biden to provide yet more “ammunition, artillery, armoured vehicles” on top of access to F-16 jets.

Top Zelensky aide Andriy Yermak said the US package included additional ammunition for HIMAR rocket launchers, artillery shells, anti-tank guided missiles and thermal imaging systems.

All in all, this is worth $375 million (about R7.3bn).

Zelensky’s surprise trip to Japan has been a major diplomatic coup, putting his country and Russia’s 15-monthlong invasion firmly at the top of the agenda.

But success in the negotiating rooms contrasted sharply with difficulties on the ground, as he reflected on the months-long battle for Bakhmut and new Russian claims to have taken control of the eastern city.

Asked about the fate of the former salt-mining town of 70 000 people, Zelensky was notably downbeat, saying “you have to understand there is nothing” there.

“For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts,” he said.

Ukrainian forces have tried for months to keep a toehold on the town, forcing Moscow to commit significant numbers of troops there in the process.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated mercenaries from the Wagner organisation and regular units for the operation to “liberate” the town.

Zelensky’s invitation to visit Hiroshima, a city synonymous with the horrors of nuclear war, was a “deeply meaningful” symbol of support, according to host Fumio Kishida, Japan’s prime minister.

“By inviting President Zelensky to Japan, we demonstrated the unwavering solidarity of G7 with Ukraine,” he said.

As well as securing backing from allies, the visit afforded Zelensky a rare opportunity to win over a handful of nations who have pointedly offered little or no condemnation of Russia’s invasion.

Leaders from India, Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia were among those invited to attend the summit as non-members.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has accused the West of “encouraging the war”.

He is yet to confirm he will even meet his Ukrainian counterpart.

The reception was warmer however from India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who told Zelensky: “I understand your pain and the pain of Ukrainian citizens very well.”

“I can assure you that to resolve this India and, me personally, will do whatever we can do.”

Zelensky offered an upbeat assessment of the encounter, saying he believed India “will participate in the restoration of the rules-based international order that all free nations clearly need.”

Zelensky is also looking for support for a 10-point peace plan, centred on the demand that Russia retreat from Ukrainian territory.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the message from Ukraine and its allies was clear: “Russia must withdraw troops”.

Any peace plan, he said, “can’t simply be linked to a freeze of the conflict”.

“Russia should not bet that if it holds out long enough, it will end up weakening support for Ukraine.”