The Group of Seven (G7) most advanced industrialized nations signaled to Russia its readiness to stand by Ukraine in the long term, while giving President Volodymyr Zelensky the opportunity to take countries such as Brazil and India on his side during the last day of the G7 summit in Japan.

Distrust of China as a trading partner and a determination to help Ukraine fend off a Russian invasion were the central messages sent by the world’s richest democracies at their summit in the city of Hiroshima.

But as G7 leaders began to wrap up their three-day meeting today, Russia claimed it had finally captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after a months-long siege, marking the bloodiest battle of the war.

The leaders of the G7 countries – the US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada – discussed how they should respond as the conflict, which began last February, drags on. Possible joint training programs for Ukrainian pilots in US-made F-16 fighter jets was a signal to Russia that it should not wait to succeed in its invasion by prolonging the conflict, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today.

Ukraine did not win commitments to hand over the planes, but President Joe Biden and senior US officials told G7 leaders that Washington supports joint alliance programs to train Ukrainian F-16 pilots.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron said the summit was an opportunity to persuade major emerging powers such as India and Brazil to support Ukraine.

Macron made the comments to reporters a day after he said Zelensky’s visit to the summit “changed the game.”

Shortly after Zelensky’s arrival in Hiroshima, Russia claimed victory at Bahamut. Hours before Moscow’s claim, Ukraine had rejected a claim by Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Primakov that fighters from his company, Wagner, had completed their takeover of the city.

On the first day of the summit on Friday, in addition to Biden’s support for Ukrainian F-16 pilot training, the G7 announced new sanctions against Russia.

Biden also plans to present Japan with a $375 million military aid package for Ukraine, according to a US official. The official, who asked not to be named, said the package would include artillery, ammunition and HIMARS rocket launchers.

Zelensky put pressure on countries to go further in both economic and military aid to his country.

Yesterday the G7 leaders also presented a common approach to China, seeking to limit the risks of their economic relations with it, without, however, disconnecting from a country which is considered the factory of the world.

The leaders said cooperation with China is essential given its role in the international community and its weight as the world’s second-largest economy, as well as in areas of common interest, such as efforts to combat climate change and to protect biodiversity.

However, they added that they would take steps to protect sensitive technologies that could pose a threat to national security, without restricting trade and investment beyond what is necessary.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the ZDF network today that the US, Germany and other rich countries will ensure their heavy investment in China continues, as well as supply chains and exports to China, but the G7 is sending a clear message that it seeks to limit risk.