Japan's PM Fumio Kishida in Warsaw: we're strengthening relations with our strategic partner Poland

"At the summit meeting, we confirmed that we are further strengthening bilateral relations with our strategic partner Poland in various fields such as security, economy, energy, and exchanges on a person-to-person level," Japan's Fumio Kishida told media during a briefing in Warsaw.

Kishida, fresh from his visit to Kyiv where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday (March 21), thanked Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki for playing a major role in providing military and humanitarian help to Ukraine.

"As one year has passed since Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine, I would like to once again express my deep respect and gratitude to Poland for playing a major role on the front lines for its military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine," Japan's PM stressed.

"In light of the increasing burden on Poland due to the prolonged invasion of Ukraine, I have told the prime minister that although Poland has grown into a middle-income country it will be treated as an ODA-eligible country and energetically proceed with projects," Kishida added.

"Chinese president's visit to Moscow is very worrying. The China-Moscow axis is dangerous. We are trying to convince China not to support Russia in its aggressive international politics," Morawiecki said in a statement.

"New geopolitical order is being born before our eyes and safety of Japan and Poland became a thing which needs to be discussed at the same time when it comes to threats both in Asia and in Europe," Poland's PM added.

Later that day, Fumio Kishida met with Poland's President Andrzej Duda. According to a presidential aide, the two discussed security, war in Ukraine, economic cooperation, and Japanese investments in Poland.

"Those were really good talks with a positive outcome for Poland and regional security," Chief of the presidential International Policy Bureau Marcin Przydacz told public broadcaster TVP Info.

He added that both Poland and Japan called for for a world order based on the international law, that was being violated by Vladimir Putin.

"We all want to restore order, stability, and end the war, but this war can only end if Russia ceases to pursue this aggressive policy. Poland understands it as Ukraine's and Russia's neighbour. Japan, on the other side of the globe, in the Far East, also understands it very well," Przydacz stressed. He added that Poland and Japan were united in counteracting and deterring Russia.

Kishida met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Tuesday (March 21) during a rare, unannounced visit by a Japanese leader that underscored Tokyo's emphatic support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion.

The Japanese prime minister had been the only leader of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations yet to visit Ukraine, which has seen an outpouring of popular support in Japan following the Russian invasion.

Zelenskiy posted footage of him greeting Kishida, whom the Ukrainian leader called "a truly powerful defender of the international order and a longtime friend of Ukraine".

Earlier, Kishida toured the town of Bucha, where the mayor has said more than 400 civilians were killed last year by Russian forces and which is synonymous with Russian brutality during the war.

He laid a wreath outside a church before observing a moment of silence and bowing.

"The world was astonished to see innocent civilians in Bucha killed one year ago. I really feel great anger at the atrocity upon visiting that very place here," Kishida said.

"I would like to give condolence to the all victims and the wounded on behalf of the Japanese nationals. Japan will keep aiding Ukraine with the greatest effort to regain peace."

Zelenskiy said Kyiv had suggested to China that it joined a Ukrainian peace formula to end the war but had yet to receive an answer. Beijing has proposed a 12-point peace proposal, but Kyiv insists on a full Russian troop withdrawal.

Japan is due to host a G7 summit in Kishida's hometown of Hiroshima in May. Tokyo has continually voiced support for Ukraine and joined sanctions against Russia.

Zelenskiy, speaking at a joint briefing with Kishida, said he would join the Hiroshima summit via an online link.

Kishida says the summit should demonstrate a strong will to uphold international order and rule of law in response to the Ukraine war.

Kishida's visit coincides with Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Russia. In what appeared to be a response to Kishida's trip, Russia's defence ministry said on Tuesday that two of its strategic bomber planes flew over the Sea of Japan.

Japan has its own territorial dispute with Moscow that dates back to the end of World War Two. Russia's invasion has also deepened concern in Tokyo and among the Japanese public about what would happen to Japan if China were to invade Taiwan.

Encouraged by the United States, Japan in December unveiled its biggest military build-up since World War Two, with a commitment to double defence spending within five years.