During the G7 summit in Hiroshima, President Joe Biden announced a fresh package of military aid for Ukraine, valued at 375 million dollars. The disclosure came as Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky along the banks of the city’s river, with the gathering taking place at the Grand Prince Hotel on Ulida Island, the summit’s central venue. The United States confirmed the package shortly after the leaders’ discussions, underscoring continued support for Kyiv amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
A senior U.S. official told EFE that the aid package includes weapons such as artillery, ammunition, armored vehicles, and highly mobile artillery rockets known as HIMARS. These are weapons systems that Washington has already supplied to Ukraine, reinforcing Kyiv’s defense and offensive capabilities in the face of the Russian invasion. The White House emphasized that the aid aligns with a broader objective of standing with Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
President Biden reiterated the United States’ commitment to Ukraine’s security. He said that the United States will continue to help Ukraine defend itself, respond to threats, and recover from the damage wrought by the conflict. He asserted that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable principles in the face of aggression.
Following the announcement, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the new military assistance and for the United States’ solidarity in facing Russia’s invasion. He thanked Biden for standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and noted the ongoing cooperation aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s ability to resist aggression.
The leaders’ discussions and the aid announcement occurred as the G7 summit continued over three days of meetings. Hiroshima, a city hosting leaders from the world’s major economies, has been the venue for a series of discussions focusing on security, global stability, and coordinated responses to Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Since the start of the war, the United States has provided substantial military support to Ukraine, with military aid totaling around 36.9 billion dollars, according to Pentagon data. The figures reflect a long-running and evolving support program designed to bolster Ukraine’s military capacity amid ongoing hostilities.
Zelensky’s trip to Japan for the G7 summit has a dual purpose. On one hand, it seeks to secure additional Western military support for Ukraine. On the other, it opens channels for diplomacy with nations that have been cautious in their stance on condemning Russia’s invasion, including countries like Brazil and India, which have pursued pragmatic economic and political relations with Moscow despite Western sanctions.
Before arriving in Japan, Zelensky helped secure sanctions declarations against Russia from the G7 and contributed to shifts in Western policy on security assistance, including discussions about F-16 warplanes. The United States signaled readiness to train Ukrainian pilots in the use of F-16s, potentially paving the way for future deliveries of these aircraft to Ukraine as part of a broader package of air-defense and air-power support.
This marked the fourth bilateral meeting between Biden and Zelensky since Biden took office in January 2021. The first two meetings occurred at the White House, before and after the 2021 invasion, with Zelensky visiting Washington in December 2022 as part of his first foreign trip since the Russian invasion began. A third meeting took place in Kyiv, followed by a stop in Poland in a display of continued solidarity and coordination with allied nations.
During the Hiroshima session, Biden recalled a moment when air-raid sirens sounded in Kyiv during his visit, noting Zelensky’s calm demeanor. Biden lightened the room by joking that if Zelensky remained unfazed by the sirens, there was no reason for him to worry either, bringing a moment of levity to a serious discussion and drawing smiles from those in attendance.