This marks Zelenskyy's second appearance at the summit, where he will engage with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union.
Significance of the Summit
High Stakes:
- This year's summit comes at a critical juncture. The US Congress recently approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine after significant delays. However, there are uncertainties about future support once the current tranche expires.
- Zelenskyy is expected to renew his calls for the West to provide long-range weapons that would enable Ukrainian forces to strike targets within Russian territory. Western officials remain cautious, fearing that such a move could escalate the conflict and provoke Russia to invade a NATO country.
International Diplomacy:
- Zelenskyy's participation in the 2023 G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, allowed him to directly address leaders from Brazil and India, countries that have maintained a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.
- His attendance in Italy is anticipated to further diplomatic efforts to consolidate international support for Ukraine amidst ongoing tensions with Russia.
Economic Measures:
- Finance ministers from the G7 countries, who will meet next week in Italy, are expected to back the European Union's plan to use revenues from frozen Russian assets for military aid to Ukraine. This move was confirmed by an official representative of the Italian Finance Ministry on May 16.
The G7 summit will be a crucial platform for Zelenskyy to bolster international support for Ukraine, address economic and military aid concerns, and navigate the complex geopolitical landscape shaped by the ongoing conflict with Russia.
