Biden confirmed the G7’s “shared and unwavering commitment to stand with the brave people of Ukraine”. He called for a “just peace that respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and terratorial integrity”.
Prior to his address, President Zelensky appeared to confirm on Sunday that Bakhmut, a prime city in eastern Ukraine was captured by Russia as President Vladimir Putin congratulated his troops and private mercenary group Wagner.
Speaking at the three-day-long summit in Japan, where Zelensky was extended a non-member invitation, he told the G7 leaders that cooperating with Ukraine has shown other countries what the response would be if one decides to invade another.”There have been attempts in the world to ignore and despise what we value,” Zelensky said. “But now it is impossible. Now our power is growing. And anyone who can wish for aggression against a democratic country can see what the response will be, he added”.
“As a result of offensive actions of the Wagner assault units, with the support of artillery and aviation of the ‘Southern’ unit, the liberation of the city of Artemovsk was completed,” Russia’s defence ministry said, using the Soviet-era name of Bakhmut.
The announcement from the Russian army came hours after Kyiv said the battle was continuing, while admitting the situation was “critical”, and with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky meeting G7 leaders in Japan.
Meanwhile, US Secretary Blinken confirmed the 38th “drawdown” of US arms for Ukraine.
“This security assistance package includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, armored medical treatment vehicles, trucks and trailers to transport heavy equipment, spare parts and other field equipment essential to strengthening Ukraine’s defenders on the battlefield” said Blinken in a statement.
Over the weekend, Russia claimed it was in control of the whole area. Bakhmut, a salt-mining town that once had a population of 70,000 people, has been the scene of the longest and bloodiest battle in Moscow’s more than year-long Ukraine offensive.