The previously unannounced visit is an opportunity to meet with leaders of seven wealthy democracies that finance their country's defense.
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The visit comes at a potentially pivotal moment in the 15-month conflict, as Ukrainian troops resist Russian gains in Bakhmut and prepare a long-awaited spring offensive.
Zelensky's top security adviser, Oleksii Danilov, said the Ukrainian leader would go "wherever the country needs him, anywhere in the world," including Hiroshima, a city synonymous with the horrors of war.
“Very important things will be decided there and, therefore, the presence, the physical presence of our president is absolutely essential to defend our interests,” he stated.
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An informed source in Hiroshima told AFP that Zelensky is now expected to appear in person, although the timing of his arrival remains uncertain.
The trip will also give Ukraine's president the opportunity to win over powerful non-aligned nations, including Brazil and India, whose leaders were also invited.
Zelensky recently embarked on a tour of Europe, calling for military support such as modern American-made fighter jets, as well as tougher sanctions against Russia.
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On the eve of his visit, G7 nations agreed to new sanctions that they say will harm Russia in the areas of “technology, industrial equipment and services that support its war machine.”
“Russian diamonds don’t last forever”
The G7 declaration also promeyour “restrict trade and use of diamonds mined, processed or produced in Russia”, including through the use of tracking technologies.
This trade is estimated to be worth around $4 to 5 billion per year for Russia.
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“Russian diamonds don’t last forever,” said EU Council President Charles Michel. “We will restrict trade.”
EU member state Belgium is among the biggest wholesale buyers of Russian diamonds, along with India and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States is an important end market for the finished product.
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The group also said it will step up efforts to prevent evasion of its existing sanctions regime, “including targeting entities moving material to the front.”
Earlier Friday, the United States and other members announced their own new measures, with a senior US government official saying that another 70 entities from Russia and “other countries” would be placed on a US blacklist.
“And there will be more than 300 new sanctions against individuals, entities, vessels and aircraft,” the official said.
London, in turn, targeted Russian copper, aluminum and nickel – as well as diamonds.
Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine 15 months ago triggered waves of sanctions that helped plunge his country into recession and depleted the Kremlin's war chest.
The Russian economy contracted by 2,1% in 2022, a trend that continued at the beginning of this year.
But Moscow adapted quickly, introducing strict capital controls, diverting trade to allies like China and reportedly borrowing evasion techniques from heavily sanctioned countries like Cuba, Iran and North Korea.
The International Monetary Fund has projected a modest economic recovery of 0,7% in 2023.
Earlier Friday, G7 leaders visited the Hiroshima Peace Park memorials and museum, where they saw evidence of the suffering and devastation caused by the 1945 atomic bombing of the city.
In a moment full of symbolism, they laid wreaths in Hiroshima, in a place that honors the approximately 140.000 people killed in the attack and its consequences.
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