Kishida arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday afternoon local time by rail from neighboring Poland and was welcomed by Ukrainian government officials at a train station in the Ukrainian capital.

In a statement on Twitter, Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzheppar welcomed Kishida to the country.

“Ukraine is happy to welcome Japan's PM Kishida Fumio. This historic visit is a sign of solidarity and strong cooperation between,” Dzheppar wrote.

“We are grateful to Japan for its strong support and contribution to our future victory,” she added.

Ahead of his meeting with Ukrainian president Zelenskyy, Kishida visited a mass grave site in Bucha, where the mayor has said more than 400 civilians were killed last year by Russian forces, laying a wreath outside a church near the site before observing a moment of silence. (ILKHA)