Tokyo was watching nervously as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy was set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss a quick peace deal with Russia — an agreement that could have broad ramifications for Japan and Asia.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday welcomed Trump’s efforts to bring an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ahead of the U.S. president’s talks with Zelenskyy in Washington. Trump and Zelenskyy will also be joined for the talks by a coterie of European leaders who are also making their way to the White House.
Japan, Ishiba said, is “closely monitoring this meeting with great interest.”