News PM Kishida in Kyiv for talks with Zelenskyy

Footage captured by Japan's Nippon Television showed Kishida boarding a train at a station in Przemysl, a city in southeastern Poland on the border with Ukraine, at around 9:30 a.m. Japan time. He was escorted by a man who appeared to be a local security guard. "During his visit to Ukraine, Prime Minister Kishida will pay tribute to the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people who, under the leadership of President Zelenskyy, have stood up to defend their homeland," the ministry said in a statement. At his summit with Zelenskyy, Kishida will convey the solidarity and unwavering support of Japan and the Group of Seven advanced economies, according to the statement. Japan is serving as chair of the G-7 this year. Kishida will also "firmly reject Russia's aggression and unilateral change of the status quo by force and reaffirm our determination to defend the international order based on the rule of law," the ministry said.

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"This historic visit is a sign of solidarity and strong cooperation. … We are grateful to #Japan for its strong support and contribution to our future victory," she wrote. Ahead of his meeting with Zelenskyy, media reports said Kishida visited a mass grave site in Bucha, a city outside Kyiv where Russian troops are accused of massacring civilians, laying a wreath outside a church near the site before observing a moment of silence. "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. "I would like to give condolence to the all victims and the wounded on behalf of the Japanese nationals. Japan will keep aiding Ukraine with the greatest effort to regain peace," he added.

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