Zelensky and Biden shake hands in Hiroshima on Sunday. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked President Biden Sunday for the “powerful” financial assistance provided by the US, which totals $37 billion, and for the new military assistance package, according to a readout from the president’s office.
“A huge gratitude from our people. I am glad that we have such strong relations,” Zelensky said, adding, “We discussed further cooperation to bolster the defense capabilities of our country.”
Biden earlier announced the military assistance package, worth $375 million, which includes ammunition, artillery and vehicles, as he met with Zelensky in Japan at the G7 summit.
"The United States continues to do all we can to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself," Biden said, citing his recent decision to allow F-16 fighter jets to go to Ukraine and to train Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft in the United States.
Biden said new sanctions on Russia would "ensure that we keep pressure on Putin to hold his backers accountable."
9:45 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023
Zelensky says the world needs "clear global leadership of democracy" as he attends G7 summit in person
From CNN's Victoria Butenko and Sophie Jeong
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a "clear global leadership of democracy" in remarks delivered in person at a session of the G7 summit in Japan on Sunday, according to a readout from the president's office.
Zelensky emphasized the importance of having air defense systems to protect all cities of Ukraine, saying that “we decide – not our enemy – what the sky security will be like.”
"Together we have proven that the question is not how many missiles our common enemy has, but how many air defense systems we have," Zelensky said.
Zelensky also thanked leaders who helped Ukraine with air defense and said he was grateful for the decision to train Ukrainian pilots on modern fighter aircrafts.
This week US President Joe Biden gave his backing for Ukrainian pilots to be trained to fly F-16s, reversing his previous position.
"When our pilots know the F-16 and when these aircraft appear in our skies, it will matter not only for Ukraine," Zelensky said. "This will be a historic moment for the entire security architecture in Europe and the world."
Zelensky said on Saturday that his government is coordinating on weapons, air defense and fighter jets with its allies in response to Russia’s war.
The G7 are seeking common ground on a host of global issues, including how to confront Beijing’s growing military and economic assertiveness as well as the war raging in Europe.
G7 member countries, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, include the largest backers of Ukraine’s defense.
10:24 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023
Zelensky denies the fall of Bakhmut, but says brutal fighting has "destroyed" the city
From CNN's Alex Stambaugh in Hong Kong and Victoria Butenko in Kyiv
Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky looks on during his meeting with US President Joe Biden in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denies claims that the city of Bakhmut has fallen to Russian forces, spokesperson Sergiy Nykyforov said Sunday.
"I think no," Zelensky told reporters, when asked both whether he thinks the city is still in Kyiv's control and about claims Russia captured the city.
His office later told CNN the president was referring specifically to Russia's claim.
"The president has denied Bakhmut has been taken over," Nykyforov said.
Zelensky also mentioned the city during an appearance with US President Joe Biden at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where the two later held a one-on-one meeting.
"There is nothing. They destroyed everything. There are no buildings. It's a pity, it's a tragedy, but for today Bakhmut is only in our hearts," Zelensky said.
The Ukrainian leader also thanked his country's fighters in Bakhmut, saying "we appreciate them for their great job."
2:27 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023
Entire G7 has "Ukraine's back," Biden says as he announces new aid package during meeting in Japan
From CNN's Kevin Liptak
US President Joe Biden announced a new security assistance package to Ukraine as he met with the country's President Volodymyr Zelensky in Japan on Sunday.
It was their first face-to-face meeting since Biden visited Kyiv in February, and came amid Zelensky's historic visit to the G7 summit in Japan.
"The United States continues to do all we can to strengthen Ukraine's ability to defend itself," Biden said, citing his recent decision to allow F16 fighter jets to go to Ukraine and to train Ukrainian pilots on the aircraft in the United States.
Biden said new sanctions on Russia would "ensure that we keep pressure on Putin to hold his backers accountable."
The new security assistance package, which a senior US administration official said earlier would total $375 million, would include ammunition, artillery and vehicles, Biden said.
He voiced support for a "just peace" in Ukraine and said the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty was "non-negotiable."
"What you've achieved is a matter for the entire world and we are in awe of what you've done so far," Biden said.
"Together with the entire G7, we have Ukraine's back and I promise we're not going anywhere."
Biden recounted hearing air raid sirens blaring while the two men were walking through the Ukrainian capital during Biden's visit earlier this year.
"We kept walking. You don't care about the sirens. I don't care about the sirens," Biden said.
8:21 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023
"Ukraine’s security is our security," says British leader Sunak
From CNN's Angus Watson in Sydney, Australia
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends a press conference at tthe G7 summit in Hiroshima on Sunday. Issei Kato/Pool/Reuters
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has underscored his country’s support for Ukraine’s defense against Russia, saying “Ukraine’s security is our security.”
The United Kingdom will begin training Ukrainian pilots on US-made F-16 fighter jets “this summer” to “support Ukraine’s air force with what it needs for the future,” Sunak said in remarks delivered Sunday in Hiroshima, Japan.
Sunak welcomed the “very tangible progress on providing further support,” made at the G7, most notably US President Joe Biden’s support for an “international coalition” of countries to provide the advanced fighter jets to Ukraine.
Ukraine must not only win the war but win a just and lasting peace,” Sunak said.
Sunak lauded Zelensky’s presence at the G7 in Hiroshima as a "very powerful moment." The pair held a bilateral meeting Saturday.
“To see President Zelensky standing shoulder to shoulder with his G7 allies I think sends a message to Russia and the world, that we are united behind President Zelensky and his people and will continue to support him for as long as it takes,” Sunak said.
2:00 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023
Biden meets Zelensky
President Joe Biden meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima on Sunday. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
US President Joe Biden is meeting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima on the sidelines of the G7 summit.
1:35 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023
"We are all in it together," Zelensky says as he attends G7 summit
From CNN's Mayumi Maruyama
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday he had presented Ukraine's 10-point peace formula "to the world," as he met world leaders at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.
"As long as invaders remain on our land, no one will sit down at the negotiating table with Russia," Zelensky wrote on Twitter, adding that "the world has enough power to force Russia to restore peace step by step."
"Our world is vast, but we are all in it together," Zelensky added. "From Japan to the Arab countries, from Europe to Latin America, we find support for our formula. And we continue this work," he said.
8:21 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023
Battles for Bakhmut 'continue,' Ukraine's armed forces say
From CNN's Josh Pennington
Ukrainian soldiers ride on a BMP infantry fighting vehicle toward Bakhmut on Saturday. Sergey Shestak/AFP/Getty Images
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) said Sunday they have not conceded the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
Battles for the city of Bakhmut continue," the AFU said in its daily operational update.
The chief of the Russian private military group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed Saturday that his forces had taken complete control of Bakhmut after months of brutal fighting.
CNN could not independently verify Prigozhin’s claim.
12:36 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023
Biden will meet with Ukraine's Zelensky in Japan on Sunday
From CNN's Betsy Klein
Joe Biden walks with Volodymyr Zelenskiy ahead of a working session on Ukraine during the G7 Summit in Hiroshima on Sunday. Susan Walsh/Pool/Reuters
US President Joe Biden is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Hiroshima, Japan, Sunday, underscoring US support for Ukraine as top US officials herald a unified Group of Seven summit.
“We do expect that the president will have a bilateral meeting with President Zelensky,” a senior administration official told reporters, adding that the meeting will be “a little bit after 2 o’clock” p.m. local time (1 a.m. ET).
Biden, the official said, “will continue to reiterate the United States’ firm and resolute support for Ukraine going forward.”
The official pointed to a “powerful statement of unity” from the G7 countries standing against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at this week’s summit, including sanctions and the announcement of a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft — efforts that were “spearheaded” by US national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Asked about the possibility of China playing a role in ending Russia’s war, the official said the US hopes Chinese President Xi Jinping views this week’s summit as a signal of “resolve.”
“We would hope that President Xi and the (People's Republic of China) extract from what they’ve been seeing here … is that there’s an awful lot of resolve to continue to support Ukraine, as the G7 continues to say, for as long as it takes, and that China could have a meaningful role in helping end this war,” the official said.
Biden is also expected to have a trilateral meeting with South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida early Sunday afternoon local time. The official called the relationships a “priority” for Biden. The leaders will discuss security, economics and other topics.
Remember: The G7 comprises the world’s most advanced industrialized democracies: the US, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan and Italy. Tokyo has also invited several other rising economic powers and regional players to the meetings.
