Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Makes Surprise Visit to Ukraine, Meets Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (L) shake hands after the signing of bilateral documents before their joint press conference after their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, on March 21, 2023. Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images

BUCHA, Ukraine/TOKYO—Japan’s Fumio Kishida met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Tuesday during a rare, unannounced visit by a Japanese leader that underscored Tokyo’s emphatic support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion.

The Japanese prime minister had been the only leader of the Group of Seven (G-7) rich nations yet to visit Ukraine, which has seen an outpouring of popular support in Japan following the Russian invasion.