SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed his country's unwavering support for Ukraine during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the leaders met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Kishida, who is set to step down later this week, pledged that Japan would maintain its backing for Ukraine on Monday, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. The two leaders agreed to sustain close coordination between their nations.
During the 30-minute meeting, Zelenskyy presented Kishida with the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 1st class, Ukraine's highest honor for foreign nationals, recognizing his efforts in rallying global support for Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Kishida mentioned plans by Japan's government-backed trade promotion agency, the Japan External Trade Organization, to establish an office in Kyiv next month.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Japan has provided various forms of non-lethal assistance and technology to support Ukrainian civilians and aid reconstruction efforts, aligning with its U.S. and European allies while adhering to the constraints of its pacifist constitution.
