Japan's PM Kishida mourns Mikhail Gorbachev's demise, hails his role in reducing nuclear weapons

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida expressed his deepest condolences on Wednesday after passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, last leer of Soviet Union.

"I would like to offer my deepest condolences to former President (Mikhail) Gorbachev. As leer of Soviet Union, Mr. Gorbachev has played an important role in overcoming to division of Europe and East-West confrontation after World War II. He was first person in history to agree to reduce nuclear weapons between United States and Soviet Union, ending Cold War," he said in a press conference.

"He has me great achievements as a world leer in favor of abolition of nuclear weapons. I believe that Mr. Gorbachev, who possessed great strategic vision and decisive execution, played a very important role. Once again, I would like to express my deepest condolences in memory of his achievements," he ded.

For many man who restored democracy to n-communist-ruled European nations, was mourned Wednesday as loss of as a rare leer who changed world and for a time gave hope for peace among superpowers.

But man who died at age 91 on Tuesday was also reviled by many countrymen who blamed him for 1991 implosion of Soviet Union and its diminution as a superpower.

Russian nation that emerged from its Soviet past shrank in size as 15 new nations were created.

Gorbachev won 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending Cold War but although widely feted abro, he was a pariah at home.

It was unclear how news of his death will be received in Russia amid its nationalist war in Ukraine.

World leers paid tribute to a man some described as a great and brave leer.

Kishida said Gorbachev h also me great achievements as a world leer in favour of abolition of nuclear weapons.