Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida visits site of Russian atrocities in Bucha

According to the Guardian’s report, the Japanese prime minister laid flowers near the church in Bucha, where civilians killed by the Russian occupiers were buried.

"I’m outraged by the cruelty. I represent the Japanese citizens to express my condolences to those who lost their lives," Kishida said.

He also assured that Japan will continue to make every effort to support Ukraine in restoring peace.

Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova announced Kishida's arrival in Ukraine. This is his first visit since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

"This historic visit at a historic time is a manifestation of solidarity with us. We are grateful to Japan for its strong support and contribution to our future victory," Dzhaparova wrote.

Representatives of the government and the ruling party previously noted that Kishida came to Ukraine from India on an unannounced visit, NHK WORLD-JAPAN reported.

According to Kyodo, it is rare for a Japanese leader to make an unannounced trip to a foreign nation.

The news agency also recalls that Kishida will preside over the three-day G7 summit from May 19 in Hiroshima, which was destroyed by the US atomic bomb in August 1945. He promised to present his vision of a world without nuclear weapons amid fears that Russia could use them against Ukraine in the ongoing war.

• Zelenskyy invited Kishida to visit Ukraine. On February 24, the president took part in the G7 online summit at Kishida's invitation on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.