Japan plans to hold G7 summit on February 24 online

Japan is hoping to hold a Group of Seven summit online on February 24, the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, government sources said, Report informs referring to Kyodo News.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the video summit, the sources said. During the gathering, the G-7 leaders are set to confirm their unity in tackling Russia’s aggression against its neighbor.

The virtual meeting would come as Japan is consolidating relations with other G-7 nations with speculation growing that Russia will launch a large-scale attack on Ukraine in the spring, while Kishida is paving the way for the success of the summit in Hiroshima in May.

It would be the first G-7 summit hosted by Kishida. A similar gathering was also held on February 24, 2022, in which the leaders of the group agreed to impose punitive economic sanctions on Russia.