The presence of our president is absolutely essential in order to defend our interests
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called for a “frank and strategic discussion” on issues such as climate change and the war in Ukraine.
“The G7, as a body sharing fundamental values, must respond effectively to the important problems of the international society and lead the world,” Kishida said as he welcomed the G7 leaders to Hiroshima.
He alluded to two “pillars” for this: a free and open international order based on the rule of law, and strengthening involvement with international partners beyond the G7.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is dominating G7 headlines even before he arrives.
He’s decided to travel thousands of miles to Hiroshima – a calculated security risk which he must believe is worth taking.
“Very important things will be decided there,” said Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council.
“The presence of our president is absolutely essential in order to defend our interests.”
Zelensky has already laid the groundwork for his G7 address. In the last ten days he has travelled to Italy, Germany, France and the UK to make sure they had his talking points in hand before they flew to Hiroshima.
The Ukrainian leader has told his western allies that he wants a “jets coalition”.
So far, he’s had a commitment from the UK that they will help train pilots – but he will want more than that.
Ideally, he wants combat jets.
He may also want to pull aside the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who plans to double his country’s defence budget over the next five years.
Japan has drawn a clear line on the war in Ukraine, joining with other G7 nations to impose sanctions on Russia. Mr Kishida visited Ukraine in March and has pledged additional $5.5bn (£4.4bn) in support.
Zelensky will hope that an impassioned plea in person in a Japanese city that has already suffered the horrors of war will have an impact – and prompt world leaders to offer not just aid, but more weapons to help push back Russian troops and end this prolonged conflict.