The G7, also known as Group of Seven, successfully wrapped up their three-day mega gathering in Hiroshima (Japan), vowing to escalate economic sanctions against Russia amidst the Russia-Ukraine war. Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian President, huddled with some of his biggest world leaders as the Group of Seven (G7) summit closed in Japan’s Hiroshima on Sunday, building a big momentum for his Ukraine’s war effort even as Russia under Vladimir Putin claimed a symbolic victory on the ground.

Zelensky’s in-person appearance highly underscored the focus of the war for the G7 bloc of rich and vivid democracies. The summit also stole much of the focus from other global issues and priorities, including numerous security challenges in Asia and outreach to the developing world, that the world leaders focused on at the 3-day gathering held in Japan.

Fumio Kishida, the Japanese Prime Minister stated “G7 reaffirmed our commitment to continue our strong backing for Ukraine from every possible dimension,” Zelensky held two major rounds of meetings on the last day of the summit along with holding one-on-one talks with several of the world leaders.

The Sunday talks were majorly around the Russian claim of the Wagner mercenaries and Russian Armed Forces holding the seizure of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. The long-eight month battle of Ukraine’s eastern city- seen as a major symbolic prize by both Russia and Ukraine- has been the longest and bloodiest battle of the ongoing war.

Zelensky, earlier on Sunday, in English, stated that the Russian side had indeed finally taken control of the city. However, the Ukrainian President and other senior officials later cast doubt on the assessment. Zelensky later changed his statement and stated “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today.”

Joe Biden, the US President, announced a new mega military support worth $375 million for the war-torn Ukraine, stating that the United States of America would provide ammunition and upgraded armoured vehicles. This pledge came just after the U.S. agreed to allow training on American-made F-16 fighter jets, laying the groundwork for their eventual transfer to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden stated “We have Ukraine’s back and we’re not going anywhere.”

The G7 or Group of Seven comprises 7 developed nations like the US, Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada and Japan. Leaders from South Korea, Brazil, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Comoros, Cook Islands and some international organisations were invited to the three-day mega gathering held at Hiroshima in Japan.

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