A group of Ukrainian lawmakers will visit Japan from Saturday to meet their counterparts, the Embassy of Ukraine in Tokyo said Thursday, to seek further support as their country battles Russia's invasion.
During the first such visit by Ukrainian legislators since Russia invaded its neighbor in February, the five parliamentarians are also expected to call for strengthening sanctions on Russia. Tokyo has joined Western nations in taking economic measures against Moscow.
The ruling and opposition lawmakers, who belong to the Ukraine-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group, are expected to meet Japanese lawmakers including the speakers of both houses of parliament.
They also plan to meet officials from the Japan Business Federation, the country's most powerful business lobby better known as Keidanren, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, a government-backed aid agency.
During their stay, which will continue until late this month, the group will also visit Osaka, Nagoya and Kobe in addition to Tokyo, the embassy said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno welcomed the visit, telling a news conference that it is expected to "be an opportunity to further strengthen unity" between Japan and Ukraine.
"Our country stands with the people of Ukraine who are working hard to protect their homeland," Matsuno said, adding that a meeting between the visiting lawmakers and Japanese government officials is being arranged.
Japan reopened its embassy in Kyiv last week following a seven-month closure due to the invasion.
Tokyo has consistently condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin, most recently in a Group of Seven meeting on Tuesday after Russia unleashed one of its largest missile strikes on Ukraine.
It has offered humanitarian assistance and accepted a number of Ukrainian evacuees.