NUNZIUM

The skies over Kyiv have been filled with missiles as Russia continues its relentless assault on Ukraine, with the latest attack leaving casualties in the Black Sea port of Odesa and blasts heard in Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky, and Zhytomyr regions. Despite the intensity, Ukraine's Air Force has managed to shoot down the majority of Russian missiles. As the frequency of attacks increases, Ukraine's army is now at "an increased state of readiness" for a counter-offensive.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has rejected a peace plan involving territorial concessions to Russia, while the G7 leaders have agreed on sanctions to "starve Russia's war machine." A summit was recently held in Hiroshima, Japan, where the G7 nations issued a joint statement on imposing further sanctions and measures. The United States plans to cut off about 70 companies from Russia and other countries from US exports, and the UK Prime Minister has announced a ban on Russian diamonds and imports of metals, with Britain targeting additional individuals and companies involved in Putin's "military-industrial complex." The G7 is also expected to announce restrictions on the export of rough diamonds from Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima on Sunday. Germany has announced a new military aid commitment worth €2.7 billion ($2.91 billion) to Ukraine, and US President Joe Biden has authorized the training of Ukrainian pilots on American F-16 fighter jets. The training will take place outside Ukraine at sites in Europe and will run for several months. Some NATO members have already begun training Ukrainian pilots.

As sanctions on Russia have thus far failed to deter Putin's aggression, Zelenskiy has been visiting London and European capitals, seeking logistical support and additional economic sanctions on Russia. The inflationary costs of sanctions have weakened the western alliance behind Ukraine.

As G7 leaders meet in Hiroshima, Japan, to discuss Ukraine and China containment, European powers have unified their military strategy in Ukraine. Zelenskiy has been visiting Italy, Germany, France, and the UK to discuss a counter-offensive. The G7 plans to tighten sanctions enforcement and debate Russia's total military humiliation and convincing the global south to join the containment effort. New Europe hawks argue for Russian military defeat and Ukraine's NATO membership, while French President Emmanuel Macron argues against humiliating Russia, calling for a European security architecture.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida focuses on the relationship between the G7 and the global south, promising $75 billion for infrastructure by 2030. As the global south resists US domination and seeks influence in global affairs, Ukraine opens dialogue with non-aligned states, focusing on post-Soviet diplomacy. To succeed, the G7 needs to share the world stage and regain the global south's trust. As tensions escalate and the world watches, the future of Ukraine and global diplomacy hangs in the balance.