Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to participate in a video summit with the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Wednesday, according to Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The meeting, scheduled for 9:30 am EST (1430 GMT), comes hours after Zelensky unexpectedly skipped a virtual meeting with US senators where he had planned to appeal for continued funding amid a critical stage in Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
As signs of potential waning Western support for Ukraine emerge almost two years after Russia’s invasion, the G7 summit will address various topics, including the situation in Ukraine, the Middle East, support for developing countries, and discussions on artificial intelligence.
Zelensky’s absence from the meeting with US senators was attributed to a “last-minute” hiccup, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The US Congress, currently divided over additional funding for Ukraine, faces challenges as Senate Republicans tie their support to Democratic acceptance of asylum system reforms and tightened border security.
Concerns over Ukraine’s war effort and potential EU accession are expected to be contentious issues at an upcoming EU leaders’ summit. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the recent election victory of Geert Wilders in the Netherlands have raised uncertainties about continued support for Ukraine within the bloc.
While the G7 foreign ministers affirmed unwavering support for Kyiv in a November meeting, the funding and diplomatic landscape remains uncertain, highlighting the challenges facing Ukraine as it navigates the evolving geopolitical landscape.
