President Joe Biden and fellow leaders from the Group of Seven sought to assure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of their support as Russia\u2019s war against his country enters its third year.<\/p>\n
The leaders held a videoconference Saturday to mark two years since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of its neighbor. The call came at a critical point in the war, with Kyiv\u2019s weapons stockpiles running low and the prospect of a protracted stalemate on the battlefront.<\/p>\n
Biden and Zelenskyy were joined on the call by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, and the foreign minister of France, Stephane Sejourne.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the leaders said they are \u201cstepping up our security assistance to Ukraine and are increasing our production and delivery capabilities\u201d as well as working to help Kyiv \u201cmeet its urgent financing needs, and assist other vulnerable countries severely affected by the impacts of Russia\u2019s war.\u201d<\/p>\n
The leaders hailed additional aid promised by the European Union, Japan and Canada, and urged \u201cthe approval of additional support to close Ukraine\u2019s remaining budget gap for 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Ukrainian people have \u201cproven their will to defeat President Putin\u2019s war machine,\u201d the statement said, referring to Russia\u2019s Vladimir Putin. \u201cWe remain convinced that we can ensure the people of Ukraine prevail in fighting for their future and help to forge a comprehensive, just, and durable peace.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are reclaiming what belongs to us, and will certainly make the Putin system pay the proper price for every Russian evil,\u201d Zelenskyy said on the call, according to a transcript of his remarks.<\/p>\n
He stressed the urgency of obtaining immediate military assistance. \u201cYou know very well all we need to keep our sky protected; to strengthen our military on the land; and you know all we need to sustain and continue our success in the sea,\u201d Zelenskyy said. \u201cWe count on you.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ukraine\u2019s allies are pledging to step up their military assistance and capacity to deliver weapons as fighting intensifies this spring, but there are increasing worries about the sustained commitment to aiding Kyiv as the war drags on. <\/p>\n
Biden\u2019s request for more than $60 billion in additional assistance remains stalled in Congress, where Republicans are using Ukraine aid as leverage to extract concessions on border security and immigration policy. <\/p>\n
The U.S. presidential election, in which former President Donald Trump is poised for a general-election rematch with Biden in November, has also stoked fears about the future of U.S. assistance. Trump has been a critic of aid to Ukraine and alarmed U.S. allies this month by threatening to encourage Russia to attack NATO members that failed to meet defense spending commitments. <\/p>\n
Canada is pledging to provide C$3 billion ($2.2 billion) in aid this year, funds which will help Kyiv meet its budgetary needs, Trudeau\u2019s office said on Saturday. The Canadian leader traveled to Ukraine\u2019s capital along with Meloni, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and von der Leyen, in a public show of allied support for the country.<\/p>\n
The European Union recently approved a 50 billion euro ($54.2 billion) aid package and Japan has committed to provide Ukraine an additional $4.5 billion this year.<\/p>\n
The G7 will also impose fresh sanctions on Russia, intensify efforts to enforce a price cap on Russian oil, and crack down on the Kremlin\u2019s ability to circumvent trade restrictions. <\/p>\n
Navalny\u2019s death<\/p>\n
The G7 leaders paid tribute to the \u201cextraordinary courage\u201d of Alexei Navalny, the Russian dissident who was one of Putin\u2019s most formidable opponents. Navalny, 47, died in prison last week. <\/p>\n
The statement calls on the Russian government to explain the circumstances around his death, to free all \u201cunjustly detained prisoners\u201d and to stop persecuting political opponents. It vows to \u201chold those culpable for Navalny\u2019s death accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Biden has said \u201cPutin is responsible\u201d for the dissident\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the U.S. unveiled its biggest one-day sanctions package against Russia since the invasion, targeting more than 500 people and entities in an bid to squeeze the country\u2019s economy and send a message over Navalny\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
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