G7 Chair Kishida, Why He Alone Hasn't Visited Ukraine Yet

Pre-Report to the National Assembly and Resolution of Japan Self-Defense Forces Security Issues
Last Year-End Visit Attempted but Failed

As one year has passed since Russia invaded Ukraine, it has been reported that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is serving as the chair of the Group of Seven (G7), is discussing a visit to Kyiv with the Ukrainian side. Since he is the only G7 leader who has not yet visited Ukraine, there is keen interest both inside and outside Japan regarding whether the visit will take place before the G7 summit. It is known that before the visit, Prime Minister Kishida must first persuade the Japanese parliament and resolve security issues related to the Self-Defense Forces, so controversy continues.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 28th, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that the ruling and opposition parties in the parliament are coordinating their differing opinions regarding Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Ukraine. The reason the parliament is stirred by the prime minister’s visit to Ukraine is due to a long-standing convention in the Japanese parliament. In Japan, when the prime minister or officials travel abroad during a regular parliamentary session, they must report in advance to the parliament and obtain its approval. Currently, the Japanese parliament has been in session since mid-last month.

However, the visit to Ukraine must be conducted in utmost secrecy without prior disclosure of the schedule. When U.S. President Joe Biden visited Ukraine, he notified Russia only a few hours before departure, and the White House thoroughly concealed the president’s schedule. If the prime minister’s visit schedule and other key information are leaked through parliamentary reporting, there is a greater possibility of safety issues for the prime minister.

In response, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is persuading the opposition party by saying, "In such a situation, why not report after the fact instead of beforehand?" Jun Azumi, the parliamentary affairs committee chairman of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, told reporters the day before, "We should not do anything that hinders parliamentary deliberations, but I hope the prime minister reports properly to the parliament upon return."

However, after the parliament, security issues also remain a major hurdle. Since World War II, Japan’s pacifist constitution prohibits having an army or special agencies. This means that, unlike President Biden, when visiting Ukraine, Japan cannot use secret service agents or its own reconnaissance aircraft. It is also not easy to dispatch the Self-Defense Forces. The Self-Defense Forces Law does not include provisions allowing the Self-Defense Forces to support when a VIP is dispatched overseas.

On the 14th, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada explained at a press conference, "Protection and safety assurance of foreigners in Ukraine, including VIPs, will initially be handled by local police authorities," and added, "There are no regulations allowing the Self-Defense Forces to be dispatched overseas solely for the purpose of protecting Japanese VIPs." In fact, past overseas dispatches of the Self-Defense Forces were limited to rear support duties or cooperation in United Nations peacekeeping activities.

Moreover, there are negative voices in the media questioning why Prime Minister Kishida should go when Japan, as a former Axis power, is even unable to provide weapons support to Ukraine. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) pointed out, "Japan is constrained by the fact that it cannot provide weapons to other countries. Unlike the U.S. or Europe, it cannot offer military support and can only provide financial aid." Previously, Germany provided Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and President Biden promised $500 million in military aid.

However, Prime Minister Kishida, known as a "diplomatic expert," appears determined to make the visit to Ukraine. Japan will host the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May. Hiroshima, a site devastated by an atomic bomb, symbolizes anti-war sentiment, but the fact that Japan, the chair country, has not visited Ukraine could remain a blemish. Additionally, with the April local elections, which serve as a midterm evaluation of the Kishida administration, approaching, it is urgent to consolidate voter support. This could be an opportunity to reverse low approval ratings.

If internal coordination proceeds smoothly, the timing of Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Ukraine is expected to be within May. Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Serhiy Korsunsky told CNBC in an interview that the plan for Kishida to visit within May is certain.

There is also speculation that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky may visit Hiroshima during the G7 summit. However, Ambassador Korsunsky noted that safety concerns remain. He said, "If flying to Japan (which requires passing over Russia), all possible provocations must be carefully considered."

Meanwhile, it is reported that Prime Minister Kishida originally planned to visit Kyiv at the end of last year. However, at that time, Russian drone attacks on Ukraine intensified, and the secret discussions at the prime minister’s residence were leaked, forcing the cancellation of the visit.

At that time, it is known that Prime Minister Kishida was furious at the prime minister’s residence over the leak of the agenda. NHK reported that as inquiries about the prime minister’s visit to Ukraine increased, he expressed anger, saying, "Why does what is discussed in the prime minister’s office immediately leak outside?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.