Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at a news conference on Feb. 24, the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s surprise visit to Kyiv was his declaration to the world of Japan’s resolve to never condone Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to continue to support Ukraine to the fullest possible extent.

As the host nation of this year’s Group of Seven summit, we hope Japan will contribute to greater international solidarity and provide its signature “fine-tuned” support to Ukraine.

Kishida met face to face with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time on March 21, arriving in Ukraine via Poland from India where he was visiting.

It is extremely rare for a Japanese prime minister to visit a country at war. Kishida’s travel schedule must have been planned in secret by just a handful of government officials.

With the sole exception of Japan, all the leaders of G-7 nations had already visited Ukraine and met with Zelenskyy. As the Russian invasion will be the main theme of this year’s G-7 summit in Hiroshima in May, Kishida must have decided he had to go to Ukraine beforehand.

Even though Kyiv is far from the battlefront, there still are Russian missile attacks and complete safety is difficult to guarantee. We applaud the government for overcoming obstacles and realizing Koshida’s visit.

When the prime minister or any Cabinet minister goes on an overseas trip while the Diet is in session, the Diet’s approval is needed in advance as a rule.

But if the destination was Ukraine, secrecy was given top priority to guarantee the traveler’s safety and opposition parties had indicated that exceptions could be made.

For now, we hope Kishida completes the trip without incident and will give a full report in the Diet.

Any arbitrary change of the status quo by the use of armed force shakes the post-World War II international order from its foundations. As such, no region in the world can remain unaffected.

While in India prior to his visit to Ukraine, Kishida met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reconfirmed the need to maintain and reinforce an international order based on the rule of law.

Kishida should make diplomatic efforts not only to lead G-7 discussions, but also to seek broad collaboration with newly emerging and developing nations.

Japan’s support for Ukraine focuses on humanitarian aid and assistance for reconstruction and recovery efforts. With massive power outages continuing under Russian bombings, Japan is providing generators and heating equipment to help people survive the cold, as well as machinery for debris disposal.

Japan is also making use of its experiences in Cambodia to help Ukrainians with the removal of land mines and the disposal of unexploded bombs.

The United States and some European nations are providing more tanks and other weapons to Ukraine, and some members of the government and the ruling coalition are saying Japan should open a way to providing lethal offensive weapons as well. 

But rather than review the “three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology” that regulates arms exports, Japan must draw upon its experiences and know-how as a nation that has embraced pacifism since the end of World War II.

At a news conference last month to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kishida said Japan would support Ukraine without interruption in a way that only Japan can. 

He must remember his words and continue to seek the means to provide this support.

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 22

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