Ukraine seeks permission for President Zelenskiy’s address to Japanese parliament

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The Ukrainian government has asked Japan about the possibility of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressing the Japanese parliament, Diet, through virtual means.</p>
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Zelenskiy has earlier addressed the parliaments of various countries in a bid to gain international support against the Russian invasion. The Ukrainian President has already addressed the European Parliament, the Canadian parliament and also the British parliament.<br />
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A while back Zelenskiy addressed American law-makers in his latest bid to garner support.<br />
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<a href="https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/03/751e7eb0ec62-breaking-news-zelensky-approaches-japan-over-possible-online-speech-to-parliament.html">Japanese news agency <em>Kyodo </em>reported</a> on Wednesday that the Japanese government and ruling coalition are interested in accepting the proposal. However, Japanese law-makers are also trying to figure out if a virtual speech is logistically possible in the Diet.<br />
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The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, has spoken with other political parties. Japan's main opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party has already convened a meeting and both parties have agreed to work towards making the speech possible.<br />
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Tsuyoshi Takagi, the LDP's Diet affairs chief, told reporters: "It will help Japan's parliament to transmit feelings (about the invasion) across the country and the rest of the world", said Kyodo news.<br />
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Sumio Mabuchi of the opposition party too agreed with the proposal, saying: "We should definitely proceed."<br />
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For the Japanese parliament, this would be a first as no other leader has addressed it via video. Also, the Japanese parliament has never held an online session.<br />
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The proposal was made by the Ukrainian embassy in Tokyo to Japan's foreign ministry.<br />
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Japan has lent strong support to Ukraine against the Russian invasion.<br />
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Japanese companies have responded to the sanctions against Russia by halting exports. Japanese airlines have either stopped or re-routed flights to Europe as they use Russian airspace. Japan also has taken measures against Russia's central bank and the SWIFT payments system.</p>