Zelenskyy and Trudeau meet face-to-face at G7 in Japan

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy early Sunday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, where the two embraced and exchanged words of support and appreciation.

It was one of a series of whirlwind meetings for Ukrainian leaders as they tried to solidify international support for the country ahead of a planned counteroffensive to drive Russian troops out of their country.

Trudeau told Zelenskyy that Canada stands with Ukraine.

“We talk every few weeks. It’s great to see you in person,” said Trudeau. “It’s great to be able to speak directly like this.”

‘I want to thank you’

For his part, Zelenskyy is friendly and appreciative.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Zelenskyy told Trudeau after shaking hands and hugging. “I want to thank you, your government, as well as Canadians for supporting us.”

The host of the G7, Japan, has said that including Zelenskyy came after the “strong desire” of the Ukrainian president to be at the table with the nation that will affect the country’s defense against Russia and the eventual reconstruction.

“Japan. G7. Important meeting with partners and friends from Ukraine. Enhanced security and cooperation for our victory. Peace will be closer today,” Zelenskyy tweeted after his arrival on a French government jet.

As Zelenskyy met with world leaders, the Russian defense ministry and the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force claimed that Bakhmut – the Ukrainian city that was the scene of a costly and possibly deadliest battle – had fallen to Russia. troop.

Wagner’s head, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said in a Telegram post that the city was under complete Russian control by midday.

Ukraine’s military command denied the claim.

Russia claims interference, Zelenskyy adviser says

A few hours later and using the Soviet-era name for the city, the Russian defense ministry said: “The assault team of the private military company Wagner with artillery and aviation support from the southern battle group has completed the liberation of the city. Artyomovsk.”

Mykhailo Podolyak, Zelenskyy’s adviser, also disputed Wagner’s claims, saying, “This is not the first time Prigozhin has said ‘We seize everything and rule.’

He suggested that Wagner’s statement was aimed at drawing attention away from Zelenskyy’s trips abroad, including the G7 summit.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War, which tracks the fighting in Ukraine daily, quoted Ukraine’s deputy defense minister Hanna Malyar as saying that Ukrainian forces continued to hold positions near the city’s MiG-17 monument.

The organization added that if Prigozhin’s claim is true, the seizure is only “symbolic” as Ukrainian forces continue to push and push Russian forces north and south of Bakhmut.

“The last few city blocks in eastern Bakhmut that Prigozhin claimed were captured by Wagner Group forces are not tactically or operationally important,” the agency said in a nightly update.