Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will deliver a virtual address to Japan's parliament on Wednesday, ruling party sources said Friday, as he has been trying to rally global support against Russia's invasion of his country.
Zelenskyy's speech, slated to begin at 6 p.m., is expected to last around 10 minutes, the sources said, with the president intending to speak live if the situation at that time in Ukraine permits.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky met with the chairs of both the upper and lower houses of parliament on Thursday to formally request that the broadcast be made.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had also asked the Diet to actively consider hosting his address, amid growing calls among both ruling and opposition lawmakers for the Ukrainian proposal to materialize.
As the war in Ukraine has entered its fourth week, his address is expected to be heard in a meeting room of one of the House of Representatives' office buildings. The event will be hosted by the upper and lower houses.
There was an idea of organizing his address in one of the chambers within the Diet building by setting up a huge screen, but it was given up as there is no precedent, according to the sources.
The two houses of the Diet had proposed Tuesday for the address, but it was set for Wednesday at the request of Ukraine, the sources added.
Zelenskyy has already made virtual addresses to parliaments in Europe and Canada, as well as to the U.S. Congress.
Related coverage:
Ukraine seeks more aid in war, urges Biden to be "leader of peace"
Zelenskyy approaches Japan over possible virtual speech to parliament
