Japan's full support for Ukraine will continue, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who will step down in the coming days, pledged Monday during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
On the fringes of annual high-level U.N. events in New York, Kishida and Zelenskyy agreed that the countries will remain in close coordination, with the premier welcoming their recent conclusion of talks in principle on an accord needed to enable sharing of sensitive information, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
It said Kishida also touched on the Japan External Trade Organization's plan to open an office next month in Kyiv.
At the outset of the meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, Zelenskyy awarded Kishida the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class, Ukraine's highest honor for foreign citizens, for his leadership in ramping up global support for Ukraine's territorial integrity, the ministry said.
As Russia's war against Ukraine, launched in February 2022, drags on, Japan has committed to providing various types of nonlethal equipment and technology to the war-torn country to help its civilians and aid reconstruction efforts.
Japan has been working closely with the United States and European countries in trying to end the war, but the Asian country's pacifist Constitution restricts military assistance.
In a related development, the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven gathered in New York with their counterpart from Ukraine.
They released a joint statement calling for international support in repairing Ukraine's damaged energy sector, warning that the country could face its "harshest" situation with regard to access to critical utilities during this winter since at least its independence.
Kishida, who took office in October 2021, is due to step down as prime minister following Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election, set to be held on Friday. He announced in August that he would not run in the election.
Before leaving for Tokyo on Monday night, Kishida also held talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
© KYODO
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Some dude
If he achieved nothing else, at least he's going out on a good note.
And he has to. If the USA decides to reset its progress by re-electing Trump, then the other countries will have to really get behind Ukraine to make up for Trump selling out to his handler at the Kremlin.
Mr Kipling
Unless Trump wins in November and tells whoever the new "leader" in Japan to end the support. Japan will obey.
smithinjapan
Except that he is also still supporting businesses based in Russia at almost 100% of the pre-war levels and still working on gas projects with Russia. Oops!
Fos
Any Us administration has smelled potential business in Ukraine, not only by selling weapons to Kiev and to all the European servants, but also prioritizing the interests of Blackrock and Goldman Sachs, like that Zelensky himself announces. And Trump knows it. It is all about Washington economic interests, and what Wall Street asks to the military apparatus, nobody cares about soldiers on the Ukrainian front.
BertieWooster
What an obedient puppy dog Kishida is! He's helping the US with their proxy war against Russia. Good boy Kishida! Waggy tail and beg!
Legrande
Ok Kishida thnx for the memories too bad you lost the support of the people because you were more preoccupied with helping out the US than tending to the needs of J citizens we will remember u forever for sure bye
Eastmann
two loosers on one photo.
one to go away and be forgotten ,other one to end in nov once money from west will get dry...than he will try runaway,but may end as Benito M.
DatAss
(((Slava Ukraini!)))