Zelenskyy's participation in the G7 summit, the aftermath of shelling and the battle for Bakhmut: highlights of May 20

Zelenskyy in Japan

The G7 leaders' summit began in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 19. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the summit on May 20.

On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan, the Ukrainian leader met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since the start of the full-scale invasion. Zelenskyy told Modi about Ukraine's “peace formula” and invited India to join the initiative.

With British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the President of Ukraine exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations between the two countries and coordinated positions ahead of the G7 summit.

During his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Zelenskyy discussed defense and political support for Ukraine. The President of Ukraine emphasized the need to improve air defense capabilities, including training for Ukrainian pilots.

Zelenskyy discussed the implementation of the recommendations for the start of negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union with President of the European Council Charles Michel. The parties paid special attention to the issue of export restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products imposed by several EU countries and the inadmissibility of their extension after June 5.

Shelling of Ukrainian regions

On the afternoon of May 20, Russians shelled Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast, with Grad multiple rocket launchers. As a result, 5 people were injured, including an 11-year-old child.

The occupiers also attacked Kharkiv with a kamikaze drone, which damaged the infrastructure. They also shelled the town of Kupiansk in the region, injuring two people.

And in one of the settlements of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a fire station was damaged as a result of Russian shelling. A dog that lived there was killed. The rescuers were not injured.

Situation in Bakhmut

Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said that heavy fighting continues in Bakhmut, and the situation is critical. At the same time, Ukrainian troops are holding the defense in the Litak area.

“As of now, our defenders control certain industrial and infrastructure facilities in the area and the private sector,” the deputy minister emphasized.

It should be noted that Maliar's statement came after the owner of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced through his press service that Bakhmut had allegedly been “completely captured”.

“Another piece of information throw-in by Prigozhin is intended to cover up the huge losses of the Wagner criminal organization, which is essentially close to losing its full combat capability. Fierce fighting is going on in the city. We partially hold the southwestern part of the city, several buildings in the Litak area,” Serhii Cherevatyi, spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, told us in a commentary.

Conditions for transferring fighter jets to Kyiv

The United States may agree to provide Ukraine with combat aircraft, such as F-16s, provided that the Ukrainian Armed Forces do not use them to strike at Russian territory, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said.

He noted that Ukrainians have consistently stated that they are ready for such conditions. And, he said, the United States has already seen that Ukraine adhered to this, using Western weapons.

Other news

• Rheinmetall wants to start production of Fuchs APCs at its facility in Ukraine.
• New meeting in Ramstein format is to be held next week, Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov announced.
• Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman calls on Ukraine to apologize for the Volyn tragedy. The Ukrainian embassy is outraged.
• Five suspects in the rape of an 11-year-old girl were detained in Kyiv Oblast.
• Lavrov's relatives wanted to celebrate the wedding in Georgia: clashes broke out and the party was canceled.