At G7, Japanese PM pledges ‘unwavering solidarity’ with Ukraine
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says Moscow’s invasion of Moscow has hit the “foundation of international order.”
Hiroshima, Japan- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has denounced Russia and pledged “unwavering solidarity” with Ukraine in a symbolic speech condemning attempts anywhere to change the status quo by force.
Speaking against the backdrop of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan, the site of the world’s first nuclear weapon attack, Kishida said Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine had “hit the very foundation of international order.”
“Anywhere in the world, an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force can never be accepted,” Kishida said in a speech on Sunday on the last day of the Group of Seven (G7) summit.
“The G7 will work to bring just and lasting peace to Ukraine as soon as possible.”
Kishida said Japan’s “mission” as host of the G7 would be to “firmly uphold the free and open international order based on the rule of law and demonstrate our determination to fully defend peace and prosperity.”
Kishida, a longtime anti-nuclear weapons advocate who has family roots in Hiroshima, repeated calls for a world free from the threat of nuclear war, declaring, “We are all citizens of Hiroshima.”
“We, the leaders of the G7, are gathered here in this place that transcends time,” Kishida said. “Together we hear the voice and prayers of Hiroshima.”
Kishida added that there should “never be any threat of using nuclear weapons, let alone using nuclear weapons, to change the status quo by force,” in a clear reference to Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons.
‘Powerful historical’ statement on denuclearization
Under Kishida, Japan has taken the strongest stance against Russia’s war in Ukraine in the region, deeming the invasion a threat to peace everywhere and linking the plight of the European country to the fate of Taiwan, which China forcibly threatened if necessary.
Kishida said G7 leaders had for the first time agreed to a “strong historic” statement on denuclearization, though it was unclear what tangible action, if any, would follow.
While Kishida has tried to use the G7 summit to draw attention to the risk of nuclear war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s surprise presence at the meeting has firmly focused attention on the global response to the 15-month war in his home country.
Since arriving in Japan on Saturday night, Zelenskyy has embarked on a diplomatic blitz to ramp up pressure on Russia and build more support for his war-torn homeland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Zelenskyy, whose trip to Japan follows visits to Europe and Saudi Arabia, will hold a press conference on Sunday evening before the conclusion of the three-day event.