G7 in Japan, surprisingly Zelensky also participates. Leaders: "Moscow withdraw troops from Ukraine"

Volodymyr Zelensky, surprisingly, at the G7 in Hiroshima.

Several international media reports it, including Bloomberg, surprisingly reversing what was announced yesterday by Japanese premier Fumio Kishida, according to which the Ukrainian president would intervene in a session scheduled for Sunday only by videoconference.

The willingness to be in Hiroshima has emerged in the last few hours, with Zelensky aiming to meet leaders, including Indian premier Modi and Brazilian president Lula, who have so far been neutral or slightly hostile towards Russia's aggression against Kiev.

On the agenda of the summit - also attended by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - there are new sanctions against Moscow, staunch support for Kiev and the strategy to contain Chinese expansion.

Instead, a counter-summit is being held in China in which President Xi Jinping participates together with the leaders of the countries of Central Asia.

And in the first note from the leaders of the G7 an exhortation to Russia to end "its ongoing aggression and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine".

Russia's aggression, the note continues, "constitutes a violation of international law, in particular of the UN Charter". While "a just peace cannot be achieved without the complete and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops and military equipment".

(Unioneonline/lf)