Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has urged his fellow leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) nations to remain united in their efforts to bring peace to Ukraine according to a Kyodo news report. He went on to warn his fellow leaders that the conflict must not set a precedent for altering the status quo by force.

Speaking after a virtual meeting marking three years since Russia’s March 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Ishiba said he had told his counterparts that the peace process should not leave room for the "wrong lesson" and that territorial changes can be achieved through aggression.

He further expressed hope that ongoing diplomatic efforts, even including those led by the United States, could help bring an end to the war.

According to the Kyodo report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had conveyed his own "strong" desire for continued G7 support, the Japanese prime minister added. The group, comprising Great Britain, Canada, France, Japan, the United States, Germany and Italy also includes the European Union; the body currently working to deal with US President Donald Trump albeit with a bloody nose after Trump essentially sidelined Europe’s representatives in addressing the Russia – Ukraine peace deal.

In addition to discussing a potential peace deal, the meeting of the G7 took place amid concerns over the potential impact of Donald Trump on wider G7 unity. The group has so far maintained a firm stance in support of Ukraine, imposing a series of sanctions aimed at undermining Moscow’s ability to finance its war, but with Trump sidestepping the European Union in recent days few see future dealings with the US president as plain sailing.

The Trump administration has increased pressure on Ukraine in recent weeks, reportedly seeking a mineral agreement with Kyiv in exchange for US aid. Mr Trump has also drawn criticism for his personal remarks about Mr Zelenskiy, whom he recently described as a "dictator".

Meanwhile, Washington also appears to be engaging more directly with Moscow and President Putin, with the two sides holding bilateral talks on ending the conflict—discussions that notably exclude Kyiv.

The protracted war has also had wider geopolitical repercussions, particularly in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, where concerns over China's growing assertiveness continue to mount. Tensions are already high in a number of nations surrounding the South China Sea given Beijing’s ever more aggressive attempts to establish territorial footholds in the region while threatening the fishing fleets and naval vessels of countries including Taiwan, The Philippines and Vietnam.

During the February 24 meeting, Mr Ishiba reiterated his warning that events in Ukraine taking place today could be mirrored in Asia in the future. "The security of Europe is inseparable from that of Asia," Kyodo reported him as saying with all listening fully aware that his intended target in making the comment was Beijing.

Japan’s top politician also "strongly condemned" the strengthening military ties between Russia and North Korea, highlighting reports of North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine.

Kyodo also reported Ishiba as saying "I said during the meeting that the G7 should remain united in achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and that Japan will continue to support Ukraine while maintaining sanctions on Russia," he added; a comment that will not go down well across the Pacific in Washington so soon after Ishiba visited Trump to discuss increased LNG flows to Japan and wider trade issues.