Japan Lower House speaker to visit Ukraine

Japan's Lower House says Speaker Mori Eisuke will make a two-day visit to Ukraine starting Monday for talks with parliamentary and government officials.

Mori has been in Paris to attend a meeting of G7 parliamentary speakers.

The Lower House Secretariat says he will be the first Japanese Lower House speaker to visit Ukraine since Russia began its invasion four years ago.

Mori is scheduled to address the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, and hold talks with its chairperson, Ruslan Stefanchuk. Meetings with senior government officials are also being arranged.

In his speech, Mori is expected to condemn Russia's invasion and say that any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force cannot be tolerated. He will also express Japan's intention to continue supporting Ukraine.

Mori served as chairman of the Japan-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Association from 2011 until May this year, building ties with Ukrainian officials.