TOKYO: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio is considering holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Lithuania on Wednesday on the sidelines of a NATO summit, government sources said Monday.

In the meeting, Kishida is expected to convey Japan’s policy of continuing support for Ukraine, which has been invaded by Russia.

It will be the first in-person meeting between Kishida and Zelenskyy since May, when the Ukrainian president visited Japan to attend the summit of the Group of Seven major democracies in the western city of Hiroshima.

Both Kishida and Zelenskyy are slated to take part in the NATO summit to be held in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius from Tuesday.

In his bilateral talks with Zelenskyy, Kishida is expected to explain progress in discussions at a preparatory committee established by his government to support the reconstruction of the Ukrainian economy.

Kishida is also expected to tell Zelenskyy that Japan plans to hold a Japan-Ukraine economic recovery promotion conference in Tokyo at year-end or early next year.

The two leaders are likely to exchange opinions on Ukraine’s bid to join NATO, sources said.

JIJI Press