Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi is visiting Ukraine. He plans to hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart to pledge Japan's continued support as the Russian invasion continues.

Iwaya arrived in Ukraine by train from Poland on Saturday.

He is scheduled to visit Bucha, the town near the capital Kyiv where many civilians were killed in the early days of the invasion.

Iwaya will then go to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Arrangements are also underway for a courtesy visit to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Iwaya plans to convey Japan's policy of continuing support for Ukraine as the fighting drags on, including providing power-related equipment to help the country survive its severe winter.

His visit comes amid growing concerns that the situation in Ukraine could worsen as North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia, reportedly engaging in combat operations with Russian forces.

Also, countries are closely watching how the United States will deal with the situation in Ukraine after President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

Against this backdrop, Iwaya is expected to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and international trends during his meeting with Sybiha.