Zelensky Asks G7 Leaders for More Ukraine Aid

May 20, 2023
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President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine landed in Japan on Saturday determined to urge the wealthiest democracies in the world to stick with him as Moscow bets on the West growing fatigued by the cost and consequences of the war.

Mr. Zelensky made a dramatic entry into Hiroshima, landing in a French plane after days in which Ukrainian and Japanese officials insisted, presumably for security reasons, that he would join the leaders at the Group of 7 summit only virtually. He was dressed in his signature hoodie, standing out from the coat-and-tie diplomatic crowd of this annual summit meeting.

Mr. Zelensky, American and British officials say, seems to sense that when he shows up in person, he can both break through American resistance to sending more powerful weapons and pressure nations like India and Brazil that have stayed on the sidelines.

His presence could make it more difficult for them to maintain their stance as fence sitters, several officials said. And even as Mr. Zelensky consulted with countries already in his corner, he sat down with Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, to make his case for support, much as he had done earlier in the week in Saudi Arabia.

Source: The New York Times