President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine is planning a trip to Hiroshima to participate in the leaders’ summit. The G7 gathering is taking place in the Japanese city from today through Sunday, with multiple sources confirming the plan. The decision to attend signals Ukraine’s sustained engagement with Western allies as the crisis continues, and it underscores the strategic importance of the G7 forum in coordinating support and safety assurances amid the ongoing conflict.
Reports indicate Zelensky was expected to land in Japan on Saturday to join sessions focused on the war in Ukraine on Sunday. The schedule reportedly included potential bilateral talks with United States President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, aligning with the broader goal of securing concrete commitments and reaffirming mutual resolve. The exact format of his participation remains under discussion among the host nation and allied partners.
Officials from the Japanese Foreign Ministry declined to confirm the specifics when consulted by reporters, noting earlier Tokyo statements that Zelensky could take part in the discussions remotely if necessary. The White House similarly refrained from commenting on possible Ukrainian leadership actions at this time. The absence of a firm confirmation leaves room for last minute changes in the diplomatic choreography surrounding the summit.
Should the visit be confirmed, it would mark Zelensky’s first Asian trip since the war began and would follow a meeting in Kyiv last spring with Kishida, who currently holds the G7 rotating presidency. The encounter would carry symbolic weight and practical consequences, given the region’s security dynamics and the alliance’s ongoing efforts to coordinate defense assistance and sanctions measures against Moscow.
The G7 leaders are pressing for intensified support to Kyiv, including discussions about security aid and potential deployments of air defenses and other critical equipment. The alliance is weighing a range of options to apply pressure on Moscow while maintaining unity among member states and balancing broader regional priorities. The public messaging around the summit emphasizes deterrence, humanitarian relief, and sustained political solidarity with Ukraine as it confronts continued aggression.
Earlier this week, G7 participants visited Hiroshima’s Peace Park and Museum, a reminder of the devastation of war and a pledge to prevent a recurrence of such tragedies. The visit is framed as a convergence of history and current policy, signaling a commitment to responsible leadership and careful stewardship of nuclear risks in the crisis timeline. As leaders navigate complex diplomatic channels, the discussions in Hiroshima are expected to influence both immediate security decisions and longer term strategic posture across North America and Asia.