G7 ends with Ukraine in focus as Zelensky says Bakhmut not captured

President Biden wrapped up the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan by standing in solidarity with Ukraine and reassuring world economic powers that Uncle Sam would not default as debt ceiling negotiations continue in Washington.

During a Sunday meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Biden announced a new military aid package worth $375 million and vowed to give Ukraine ammunition and armored vehicles.

The aid comes as the US agreed to train Ukrainian troops on American-made F-16 fighter jets so they could eventually be transferred to Ukraine.

“We have Ukraine’s back and we’re not going anywhere,” Biden said.

Zelensky’s office, meanwhile, clarified his comments on the key eastern city of Bakhmut, which Russia claims it captured Sunday with the help of mercenaries.

During his meeting with Biden, Zelensky had said Bakhmut was “only in our hearts,” seeming to indicate the end of the fiercest battle yet during the 15-month-long war.

However, later his press secretary clarified that his words had been misconstrued and that the Ukrainian leader had denied that Russia captured Bakhmut.

“Reporter’s question: Russians said they have taken Bakhmut,” Sergii Nykyforov wrote on Facebook, according to Reuters. “President’s reply: I think no.”

He added in Ukrainian: “In this way, the president denied the capture of Bakhmut.”

Even before Zelensky landed Saturday for the summit, the G7 nations had announced new sanctions and other actions being taken to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. The vowed to place further pressure on the issue, calling Russia’s war “a threat to the whole world in breach of fundamental norms, rules and principles of the international community.”

Though talks of the war in Ukraine dominated much of the summit, leaders of Japan, the US, the UK, France, Germany, Canada and Italy, as well as the European Union, also looked to address global concern over a variety of other issues, including climate change, poverty, economic instability and nuclear proliferation.

Biden looked to reassure world leaders that the US would not default because of stalling debt limit talks.

Biden also said Sunday that he may try to use the 14th Amendment to address the debt ceiling, all while acknowledging that if he did, potential legal challenges could still lead the US to default.

“I’m looking at the 14th Amendment as to whether or not we have the authority — I think we have the authority,” Biden told reporters, according to The Hill.

“The question is, could it be done and invoked in time that it would not be appealed, and as a consequence past the date in question and still default on the debt. That is a question that I think is unresolved.”

Biden was set to resume ongoing negotiations with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy about raising the debt ceiling through legislation as he flew back to Washington, DC on Air Force One.

The Republican and his caucus had passed a bill that raised the debt limit while also cutting spending of some of Biden’s key agenda items, which the Democrat said was a non-starter.

With Post wires