Zelenskyy approaches Japan over possible online speech to parliament

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approached Japan about delivering a virtual speech to parliament, lawmakers familiar with the matter said Wednesday, as he continues to rally international support for the defense of his country from Russia’s invasion.

The government and ruling coalition are interested in accepting the proposal and are looking to determine whether such a speech is logistically possible in parliament.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has explained the idea to other political parties. The Ukrainian president delivered an emotional speech to the British House of Commons on March 8 via video link and vowed to fight until the end against Russia.

“It’s better to carry this out early,” a senior LDP lawmaker told reporters.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Tokyo has sounded out the Foreign Ministry about the possibility of Zelenskyy addressing parliament, according to the lawmakers.

However, one obstacle to delivering such an address is that the Diet building lacks the necessary technology — including a large screen.

Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the Democratic Party for the People, said on Twitter that the LDP had explained to the party that preparations were being made to set up a large monitor in parliament’s main hall and that a few days would be needed to clear logistical issues, including making arrangements for interpreters.

Meanwhile, Kenta Izumi, who heads the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, expressed caution on Twitter, saying that this should not be discussed only from the perspective of technical issues, considering the impact of a foreign leader addressing parliament. The speech should be made only after Kishida and Zelenskyy hold talks and issue a joint statement, he said.

Zelenskyy has also addressed the European Parliament and the Canadian Parliament, calling on them to increase sanctions pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime amid its invasion of Ukraine. He is set to address the U.S. Congress on Wednesday.

Japan has strongly criticized Russia’s aggression, saying it has undermined Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in violation of international law, and has joined Western allies and partners in slapping onerous sanctions on Moscow.

Tokyo has also provided bulletproof vests and other defense supplies to Ukraine, in a rare delivery of equipment by the Self-Defense Forces to a country under armed attack.

Besides the delivery of defense supplies, Japan has also begun taking in people fleeing from Ukraine.