Japanese billionaire Hiroshi "Mickey" Mikitani said Sunday that ''Russia's invasion a challenge to democracy,'' adding that he will donate $8.7 million to the government of Ukraine.

"My thoughts are with you and Ukraine people," Mikitani said in a letter addressed to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"I believe that the trampling of a peaceful and democratic Ukraine by unjustified force is a challenge to democracy.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ukraine-president-zelinsky-minsk-agreement-itself-is-complicit-457104/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"I sincerely hope that Russia and Ukraine can resolve this issue peacefully and that Ukraine people can have peace again as soon as possible," he wrote.

Mikitani is the founder of e-commerce giant Rakuten. He visited Kyiv in 2019 and met with Zelensky.&nbsp;

Street fighting broke out in Ukraine’s second-largest city and Russian troops squeezed strategic ports in the country’s south Sunday, advances that appeared to mark a new phase of Russia’s invasion following a wave of attacks on airfields and fuel facilities elsewhere in the country.

Until Sunday, Russia’s troops had remained on the outskirts of Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) south of the border with Russia, while other forces rolled past to press the offensive deeper into Ukraine and Ukrainian fighters put up determined resistance.

Also see |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-curiosity-to-cataclysm-russian-president-vladimir-putins-relationship-with-the-west-456896">From curiosity to cataclysm: Russian President Vladimir Putin's relationship with the West</a>

“We are fighting, fighting for our country, fighting for our freedom because we have the right to do that,” Zelenskyy said.&nbsp;

“The past night was tough — more shelling, more bombing of residential areas and civilian infrastructure. There is not a single facility in the country that the occupiers wouldn’t consider as admissible targets.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-are-the-ukrainians-what-you-should-know-about-the-nation-facing-war-457019" hreflang="en">Who are the Ukrainians? What you should know about the nation facing war</a>

Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t disclosed his ultimate plans, but Western officials believe he is determined to overthrow Ukraine’s government and replace it with a regime of his own, redrawing the map of Europe and reviving Moscow’s Cold War-era influence.

The pressure on strategic ports in the south of Ukraine appeared aimed at seizing control of Ukraine’s coastline stretching from the border with Romania in the west to the border with Russia in the east.

Cutting Ukraine’s access to its sea ports that would deal a major blow to the country’s economy. It also could allow Moscow to build a land corridor to Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014 and until now was connected to Russia by a 19-kilometer (12-mile) bridge, the longest bridge in Europe which opened in 2018.

Russia’s military also put increasing pressure on strategic ports in the south of Ukraine, blocking the cities of Kherson on the Black Sea and the port of Berdyansk on the Azov Sea.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese billionaire Hiroshi "Mickey" Mikitani said Sunday that ''Russia's invasion a challenge to democracy,'' adding that he will donate $8.7 million to the government of Ukraine.

Japanese billionaire Hiroshi "Mickey" Mikitani said Sunday that ''Russia's invasion a challenge to democracy,'' adding that he will donate $8.7 million to the government of Ukraine. "My thoughts are with you and Ukraine people," Mikitani said in a letter addressed to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. "I believe that the trampling of a peaceful and democratic Ukraine by unjustified force is a challenge to democracy. "I sincerely hope that Russia and Ukraine can resolve this issue peacefully and that Ukraine people can have peace again as soon as possible," he wrote. Mikitani is the founder of e-commerce giant Rakuten. He visited Kyiv in 2019 and met with Zelensky. Street fighting broke out in Ukraine’s second-largest city and Russian troops squeezed strategic ports in the country’s south Sunday, advances that appeared to mark a new phase of Russia’s invasion following a wave of attacks on airfields and fuel facilities elsewhere in the country. Until Sunday, Russia’s troops had remained on the outskirts of Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million about 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) south of the border with Russia, while other forces rolled past to press the offensive deeper into Ukraine and Ukrainian fighters put up determined resistance. Also see | From curiosity to cataclysm: Russian President Vladimir Putin's relationship with the West “We are fighting, fighting for our country, fighting for our freedom because we have the right to do that,” Zelenskyy said. “The past night was tough — more shelling, more bombing of residential areas and civilian infrastructure. There is not a single facility in the country that the occupiers wouldn’t consider as admissible targets.” Also read | Who are the Ukrainians? What you should know about the nation facing war Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t disclosed his ultimate plans, but Western officials believe he is determined to overthrow Ukraine’s government and replace it with a regime of his own, redrawing the map of Europe and reviving Moscow’s Cold War-era influence. The pressure on strategic ports in the south of Ukraine appeared aimed at seizing control of Ukraine’s coastline stretching from the border with Romania in the west to the border with Russia in the east. Cutting Ukraine’s access to its sea ports that would deal a major blow to the country’s economy. It also could allow Moscow to build a land corridor to Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014 and until now was connected to Russia by a 19-kilometer (12-mile) bridge, the longest bridge in Europe which opened in 2018. Russia’s military also put increasing pressure on strategic ports in the south of Ukraine, blocking the cities of Kherson on the Black Sea and the port of Berdyansk on the Azov Sea. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese billionaire calls Russia's attack a challenge to democracy, donates $8.7 million to Ukraine

Andres Iniesta looks poised to join Japan's Vissel Kobe after tweeting on Wednesday that he was going to his "new home" with his "friend" Hiroshi Mikitani, owner of the J-League club.

The 34-year-old Barcelona icon posted a photo of himself and Mikitani in what appeared to be a private jet, along with emojis of the Japanese flag and a football.

Iniesta, who famously scored the winning goal for Spain against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final,&nbsp;was top of Mikitani's wishlist.

The billionaire businessman is also the founder and CEO of Rakuten, Barcelona's main sponsor, and had been personally involved in securing Iniesta's services, according to local media.

Iniesta announced last month that he would be leaving Barca at the end of the season, bringing an end to a 22-year association with the club.

The midfielder has enjoyed a glittering career, winning eight La Liga and four Champions League titles.&nbsp;

Social media lit up after Iniesta's tweet.

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Rumbo a mi nuevo hogar, con mi amigo <a href="https://twitter.com/hmikitani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hmikitani</a>...??⚽ ✈️ ? 
 
Heading to my new home, with my friend ??⚽ ✈️ ? <a href="https://t.co/xeXBw4GYfc">pic.twitter.com/xeXBw4GYfc</a>
— Andrés Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) <a href="https://twitter.com/andresiniesta8/status/999359516255793153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Many Japanese fans retweeted the photo of the player shaking hands with Mikitani and welcoming him to the country, while another user posted a cartoon meme of Iniesta dressed in a wizard's cloak and waving a wand.&nbsp;

Kobe currently sit sixth in the J-League first division standings after 15 games played, having finished ninth in the table last term.

If the move to Kobe is confirmed, Iniesta will join former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski in the western Japanese port city after the German completed a move from Galatasaray last summer.

Danish legend Michael Laudrup, himself a former Barcelona fan favourite and one of Iniesta's boyhood heroes, also played for Vissel in 1996-97.

CHINA INTEREST 

Iniesta had also been linked to a move to Chinese Super League side Chongqing Lifan but they, like Vissel initially, denied the rumours.

If confirmed, the Spain legend's decision to choose Kobe would represent arguably Japanese football's biggest transfer coup with many top players now moving to cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of their careers.

It would also come as a timely boost to the J-League, which used to attract luminaries such as Brazilian great Zico and former England star Gary Lineker when it began in 1993 but has struggled to attract marquee players in recent years.

Iniesta's departure from Barcelona drew strong tributes from the football world.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said the midfielder should have won the Ballon d'Or in 2010 for clinching the World Cup with Spain, when he was beaten to it by Lionel Messi.

"I think he really deserved to win the Ballon d'Or when he won his World Cup, he had an exceptional year and he finished the World Cup by winning it, by scoring (the winning goal in the final), so obviously that year he would have deserved it," Zidane said at the end of April.

It was the period when Iniesta was arguably at his best, as Barcelona won three consecutive league titles under Pep Guardiola, as well as the Champions League twice.

He is still going to play for Spain in this summer's World Cup before likely ending his international career.

The 34-year-old Barcelona icon posted a photo of himself and Mikitani in what appeared to be a private jet, along with emojis of the Japanese flag and a football.

Andres Iniesta looks poised to join Japan's Vissel Kobe after tweeting on Wednesday that he was going to his "new home" with his "friend" Hiroshi Mikitani, owner of the J-League club. The 34-year-old Barcelona icon posted a photo of himself and Mikitani in what appeared to be a private jet, along with emojis of the Japanese flag and a football. Iniesta, who famously scored the winning goal for Spain against the Netherlands in the 2010 World Cup final, was top of Mikitani's wishlist. The billionaire businessman is also the founder and CEO of Rakuten, Barcelona's main sponsor, and had been personally involved in securing Iniesta's services, according to local media. Iniesta announced last month that he would be leaving Barca at the end of the season, bringing an end to a 22-year association with the club. The midfielder has enjoyed a glittering career, winning eight La Liga and four Champions League titles. Social media lit up after Iniesta's tweet. Rumbo a mi nuevo hogar, con mi amigo @hmikitani...??⚽ ✈️ ? Heading to my new home, with my friend ??⚽ ✈️ ? pic.twitter.com/xeXBw4GYfc — Andrés Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) May 23, 2018 × Many Japanese fans retweeted the photo of the player shaking hands with Mikitani and welcoming him to the country, while another user posted a cartoon meme of Iniesta dressed in a wizard's cloak and waving a wand. Kobe currently sit sixth in the J-League first division standings after 15 games played, having finished ninth in the table last term. If the move to Kobe is confirmed, Iniesta will join former Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski in the western Japanese port city after the German completed a move from Galatasaray last summer. Danish legend Michael Laudrup, himself a former Barcelona fan favourite and one of Iniesta's boyhood heroes, also played for Vissel in 1996-97. CHINA INTEREST Iniesta had also been linked to a move to Chinese Super League side Chongqing Lifan but they, like Vissel initially, denied the rumours. If confirmed, the Spain legend's decision to choose Kobe would represent arguably Japanese football's biggest transfer coup with many top players now moving to cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight of their careers. It would also come as a timely boost to the J-League, which used to attract luminaries such as Brazilian great Zico and former England star Gary Lineker when it began in 1993 but has struggled to attract marquee players in recent years. Iniesta's departure from Barcelona drew strong tributes from the football world. Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said the midfielder should have won the Ballon d'Or in 2010 for clinching the World Cup with Spain, when he was beaten to it by Lionel Messi. "I think he really deserved to win the Ballon d'Or when he won his World Cup, he had an exceptional year and he finished the World Cup by winning it, by scoring (the winning goal in the final), so obviously that year he would have deserved it," Zidane said at the end of April. It was the period when Iniesta was arguably at his best, as Barcelona won three consecutive league titles under Pep Guardiola, as well as the Champions League twice. He is still going to play for Spain in this summer's World Cup before likely ending his international career.

​​​​​​​Iniesta off to 'new home' Japan with 'friend', owner of Vissel Kobe

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Japanese billionaire calls Russia's attack a challenge to democracy, donates $8.7 million to Ukraine

​​​​​​​Iniesta off to 'new home' Japan with 'friend', owner of Vissel Kobe

Iniesta off to 'new home' Japan with 'friend', owner of Vissel Kobe