Kishida Seeks New Russia Sanctions w/G7, Looks For Support Boost For LDP

Wires carrying comments from Japanese PM Fumio Kishida states that he would like to present new sanctions on Russia alongside other nations in the G7. Says that he is planning to call for third parties to suspend military support for Russia. Confirms that he is 'considering visiting Ukraine' but no decisions have been made yet, no specific window has been identified, and that he is in close contact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

• Asked by reporter whether Zelenskyy will be invited to the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Kishida that no decisions have yet been made on attendees.
• Kishida has been making clear efforts in recent weeks to promote a view that he is delivering strong leadership of the G7 as his approval rating remains in the doldrums and speculation continues that he could call a snap general election. A successful year at the head of the G7 could see Kishida seek to profit from a bounce in support (if it materialises), a prospect that could be boosted if his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) performs well in spring local elections.
• There is also the prospect that an election could be demanded by powerful LDP factions due to the planned increase in taxes to fund major increases in defence spending outlined by Kishida. In late Jan, Koichi Hagiuda, chairperson of the LDP's Policy Research Council stated “When we have asked the people to pay new taxes in the past, we always got their consent through elections. We need to do so this time as a matter of course.”