Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 21 in Kyiv, in a surprise visit highlighting Japan’s support for the war-torn country amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Kishida’s surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital came on the same day Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Moscow where he promoted Beijing’s peace proposal for Ukraine.
Kishida’s trip is the first time a Japanese prime minister has visited a country or region with ongoing fighting since World War II, according to Japanese media NHK.
Japanese prime minister said that Tokyo will provide US$30 million to NATO trust funds to help Ukraine acquire non-lethal equipment. Japan has provided Ukraine with aid in the form of surveillance drones, bulletproof vests, helmets and medical supplies.
#PMinAction: On March 21, 2023 (local time), Prime Minister Kishida visited Kyiv in Ukraine. He then held a summit meeting with H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine.
— PM’s Office of Japan (@JPN_PMO) March 22, 2023
More photos here: https://t.co/SbGhkNwd72#DiplomacySecurity #JPNUKRsummit pic.twitter.com/TI1sWcyrwc
During the visit, Kishida was taken to the nearby town of Bucha, where hundreds of civilians were killed last year by Russian forces. He laid a wreath there, saying he felt great anger over the atrocity that had taken place in the town, and offered his condolences.
“The world was astonished to see innocent civilians in Bucha killed one year ago. I really feel great anger at the atrocity upon visiting that very place here,” Kishida said.
Zelenskyy called Kishida a “powerful defender of the international order” and “a longtime friend of Ukraine”.
“I am pleased to welcome to Kyiv Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida — a truly powerful defender of the international order and a longtime friend of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said on social media.
After concluding his visit to Kyiv, Kishida headed to Poland for talks about the region’s security and bilateral relations. In Warsaw, Kishida was greeted by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and will later meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda.