Japan’s chief, Fumio Kishida, in Kyiv as China’s Xi Jinping visits Russia

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TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has arrived in Kyiv to fulfill with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, turning into the primary post-war Japanese chief to go to an lively warfare zone and the ultimate chief of the Group of Seven superior nations to make the trek to Ukraine’s capital to point out help.

Kishida’s arrival, as reported by Japanese information shops NHK and Kyodo, comes as Chinese language chief Xi Jinping holds conferences with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It’s Xi’s first go to to Russia because the invasion of Ukraine. On Tuesday, in one other present of help for Moscow as a warfare crimes arrest warrant more and more isolates the Russian chief, Xi also invited Putin to China for a visit.

Xi invites Putin to China, as war crimes arrest warrant isolates Russian leader

Kishida was anticipated to fulfill with Zelensky on Tuesday and categorical Japan’s “solidarity and unwavering help for Ukraine,” the Japanese International Ministry stated in an announcement. As chair of the G-7 this 12 months, Kishida will convey his respect for Ukrainians in “standing as much as defend their homeland” underneath Zelensky’s management, the ministry stated.

Kishida boarded a practice in Poland on Tuesday, after departing India for a summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Japanese prime minister’s workplace had not beforehand introduced the journey, however discussions and planning for a possible go to had been underway since Zelensky invited Kishida in early January.

Since Russia’s invasion, Japan has joined Western powers in pressuring Moscow by sanctions and supporting Kyiv by help. In Could, Japan will host the G-7 summit in Hiroshima, the place the leaders of the highest economies are anticipated to exhibit their unity of their response to Russia.

Final month, Japan pledged one other $5.5 billion in humanitarian help to Ukraine on prime of the $600 million in monetary help it had already offered to Kyiv because the invasion. Japan additionally has taken unprecedented steps to just accept Ukrainian refugees, regardless of its long-standing refusal to open its doorways to evacuees from battle zones.

Kishida’s journey comes as Chinese language chief Xi Jinping holds conferences with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kishida plans to go to Poland on Wednesday and return to Japan on Thursday.

One 12 months of Russia’s warfare in Ukraine

Portraits of Ukraine: Each Ukrainian’s life has modified since Russia launched its full-scale invasion one 12 months in the past — in methods each huge and small. They’ve discovered to outlive and help one another under extreme circumstances, in bomb shelters and hospitals, destroyed residence complexes and ruined marketplaces. Scroll through portraits of Ukrainians reflecting on a year of loss, resilience and fear.

Battle of attrition: Over the previous 12 months, the warfare has morphed from a multi-front invasion that included Kyiv within the north to a battle of attrition largely concentrated alongside an expanse of territory within the east and south. Follow the 600-mile front line between Ukrainian and Russian forces and take a look at where the fighting has been concentrated.

A 12 months of residing aside: Russia’s invasion, coupled with Ukraine’s martial regulation stopping fighting-age males from leaving the nation, has compelled agonizing choices for thousands and thousands of Ukrainian households about how to balance safety, duty and love, with once-intertwined lives having grow to be unrecognizable. Right here’s what a train station full of goodbyes appeared like final 12 months.

Deepening international divides: President Biden has trumpeted the reinvigorated Western alliance cast in the course of the warfare as a “international coalition,” however a better look suggests the world is far from united on issues raised by the Ukraine war. Proof abounds that the hassle to isolate Putin has failed and that sanctions haven’t stopped Russia, because of its oil and gasoline exports.

Understanding the Russia-Ukraine battle