The Ukrainian leader was in Saudi Arabia ahead of an expected trip to the G7 in Japan
Volodymyr Zelensky accused some Arab leaders of “turning a blind eye” to Russia’s invasion ahead of his expected appearance at the G7 summit in Japan.
The Ukrainian president is believed to be arriving in Hiroshima on Sunday in an attempt to secure additional military support for a planned counter-offensive.
On Friday, Mr. Zelensky was in Saudi Arabia for an Arab League summit.
Of the Arab League states, only Syria openly supported Russia’s invasion.
Other member states seek to maintain good relations with Moscow.
“Unfortunately, there are some in the world and here among you who turn a blind eye to these (POW) cells and illegal annexations,” Mr. Zelensky said.
“I am here so that everyone can look honestly, no matter how much the Russians try to influence, there must still be independence.
Mr Zelensky also told the leaders gathered in Jeddah that his country was defending itself against colonizers and imperialists, appearing to refer to the Arab world’s own history of invasions and occupations.
Host nation Saudi Arabia has walked a delicate line over the conflict – on the one hand supporting a UN resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its troops and pledging $400 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, while on the other hand resisting the imposition of sanctions on Russia, preferring to be seen as neutral in relation to the conflict.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman renewed his offer for Saudi Arabia to mediate between Moscow and Kiev to end the fighting at the summit.
Meanwhile, Syria had just been readmitted to the Arab League – its leader Bashar al-Assad told the summit that there was a historic opportunity for the region to transform itself without foreign intervention.
Mr Zelensky also took aim at Iran, which is not a member of the Arab League, for supplying Russia with Shahed drones. Iran denies supplying drones to the conflict.
The Ukrainian leader is expected to travel from Saudi Arabia for the G7 summit, although his office has not confirmed the visit.
The G7 summit began on Friday with renewed condemnation of Russia and the announcement of new sanctions.
The Group of Seven nations, made up of the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Japan, represent the world’s richest democracies. Eight other countries were also invited this year, including Australia and India.
G7 leaders imposed more sanctions on Russia on the opening day of the summit
The trip will be Zelensky’s furthest trip from Kiev since the start of the war in February 2022 and, like other trips outside Ukraine, could pose a potential risk to his safety.
But the calculation is that the risk is worth taking if it means securing even more help in his fight against Russia.
“When a person is somewhere far away, across the ocean, somewhere else, he does not always feel and understand what is happening on the territory of our country. The physical presence of our president is extremely important at such events,” said Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s powerful National Security and Defense Council.
In the past few days, Mr. Zelensky has visited Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, where he made good on promises of military support. He also continues to insist that allies provide Ukraine with advanced fighter jets, but so far no country has directly committed to providing them.
Once he reaches Hiroshima, he is likely to try to persuade more cautious leaders to provide aid, such as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian leader Narendra Modi.
“By appearing in person, it’s a chance for him to make sure that he doesn’t leave empty-handed and that he goes back to Kiev with his hands full with the arms deals he wants,” including a promise of lethal weapons from Japan , said John Kirton, director of the G7 Research Group think tank.
Although Japan has been extremely sympathetic to Ukraine, its strict military laws have meant that it has so far only given non-lethal defense equipment.
Earlier on Friday, the G7 leaders were welcomed by Mr Kishida at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where they laid wreaths in honor of those killed in the US atomic bombing that hastened the end of World War II.
The summit’s first day ended with a statement in which member states pledged “new steps” to end the war in Ukraine and vowed additional sanctions for “increasing the costs of Russia and those who support its war effort.”
They said they would “deprive Russia of G7 technology, industrial equipment and services that support its military machine” and limit Russia’s income from energy and diamond sales.
The summit, which ends on Sunday, is expected to end with a communiqué on the war in Ukraine.
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