Kiev – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have signed a joint statement on a special global partnership between the countries.
The signing ceremony took place before the press conference of the leaders of the two countries in Kiev, reports Ukrinform.
“This document reflects our values, which we defend together, and our aspirations, which remain to be achieved. We have established the most meaningful relationship in over 30 years, but this is only the basis for what we can achieve in the future,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the fact that the partnership between Ukraine and Japan strengthens global security and brings closer the time when we can finally restore peace and ensure the stability of life for Ukrainians and all peoples of the world.
The President recalled that the total aid provided by Japan to Ukraine since February 24, 2022 exceeded 7 billion dollars.
Before meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , Reuters reported that the Japanese prime minister visited the town of Bucha, near Kiev, where the mayor said more than 400 civilians had been killed by Russian forces during the month. last year.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to Kiev became known on the morning of March 21.
According to Japanese news agency Kyodo, Kishida arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kiev on Tuesday for an unannounced visit for talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the G-7 summit to be held in Tokyo in May.
Before arriving in Kiev, Kishida met his Indian counterpart in New Delhi.
According to the Ukrainian press, the head of the Japanese government was welcomed on the morning of March 21 at the Kiev station, he arrived by train from Poland.
This is the first visit by a Japanese prime minister to Ukraine since the Russian-Ukrainian crisis began in February 2022.
In the telegram channel, the Ukrainian leader said he was happy to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, “a very ardent defender of the international order and a long-time friend of Ukraine”, to Kiev.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy underlined that “Prime Minister Kisida has arrived in Ukraine at the precise moment when it is important to intensify global leadership in order to protect the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international security in general”.
US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel tweeted that Kishida is “making a historic visit to Ukraine to protect the people of Ukraine and promote the universal values ​​enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.”
Ukraine’s Ministry of Communities, Land and Infrastructure Development announced on February 1, 2023 that the Japanese government has allocated $170 million to Ukraine for emergency recovery projects, including the restoration of critical infrastructure.
About Ukraine meeting Xi Jinping in Moscow
Recall that on March 21, after negotiations within the framework of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia, a joint statement on deepening Russian-Chinese relations, comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction was signed. . And also – the joint statement on the plan for the development of key areas of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation until 2030.
On the situation in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart, noted that “many provisions of the ‘peace plan’ identified by China are in line with Russian approaches and can be taken as a basis for a peaceful settlement when they are ready for it in the West and in Kiev”.
