Japan-Ukraine Summit Meeting (Summary)

 
On March 21, commencing at 3:50 p.m. local time (Japan time: 10:50 p.m.) till 7:50 p.m.(Japan time 2:50p.m.)for approximately two hours and 45 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit meeting and working-dinner with H.E. Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. The overview of the meeting and dinner is as follows. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen their coordination even further and issued a Joint Statement on the Special Global Partnership.
 
1. Introduction
 
(1) Prime Minister Kishida expressed his respect for the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people standing up to defend their homeland and democracy under the leadership of President Zelenskyy. Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan has consistently and strongly condemned Russia, imposed severe sanctions, and provided support standing by Ukraine.
 
(2) Prime Minister Kishida told President Zelenskyy that Japan has been working closely with President Zelenskyy in imposing severe sanctions against Russia and providing support for Ukraine. Prime Minister Kishida also stated to President Zelenskyy that Japan is chairing the G7 this year, and at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May, Japan will demonstrate its determination to maintain the unwavering unity of the G7 and to uphold the international order based on the rule of law as the G7.
 
(3) Prime Minister extended invitation to President Zelenskyy to participate online to G7 Hiroshima Summit since the Ukraine will be one of the main agenda. President Zelenskyy gladly accepted the invitation.
 
(4) In response, President Zelenskyy sincerely welcomed Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Ukraine, and appreciated the Prime Minister as the guardian of the international order. The President expressed his appreciation for Japan's position on the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and stated his willingness to further advance cooperation with Japan as the G7 chair this year.
 
2. Assistance to Ukraine
 
(1) Prime Minister Kishida stated that, in addition to the humanitarian and financial assistance totaling approximately 1.6 billion US Dollars that has been provided since last year, Japan decided to provide additional financial assistance of approximately 5.5 billion US Dollars to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine once again on the occasion of the one-year mark of Russia’s aggression. He also stated that Japan will steadily implement the assistance totaling 7.1 billion US Dollars to support Ukraine in various fields, including electricity, mine clearance and agriculture. Moreover, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan has decided to provide the assistance including new bilateral grant aid amounting to 470 million US Dollars in the energy sector and non-lethal defense equipment assistance amounting to 30 million US Dollars through NATO trust fund.
 
(2) In response, President Zelenskyy expressed his deep gratitude for Japan’s consistent assistance for Ukraine which amounts more than 7 billion USD, and the two leaders exchanged views on forthcoming assistance to Ukraine as well as its recovery and reconstruction.
 
3. Sanctions against Russia
 
(1) Prime Minister Kishida noted that it is essential to continue severe sanctions against Russia and particularly important to take measures against evasion and circumvention of sanctions. He stated that he would like to establish the Enforcement Coordination Mechanism that was agreed to launch in the G7 Leaders' Statement of February 24 as soon as possible and to work on it proactively as the G7 Chair.
 
(2) In response, President Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for Japan's efforts, and Prime Minister Kishida stated that it is also important to deter third actors from providing military assistance to Russia and that he would like to respond in close coordination with like-minded countries including the G7.
 
4. Response to nuclear threats and others
 
(1) Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan, as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings during wartime, cannot accept Russia's nuclear threats and that Russia must not break a 77-year record of the non-use of nuclear weapons. Then he stated that he would like to strongly convey this point at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May.
 
(2) Prime Minister Kishida also stated that Russia's series of actions, including the occupation of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, are absolutely unforgivable outrages and that Japan supports activities of the IAEA.
 
(3) President Zelenskyy asked Prime Minister Kishida to include in agenda of G7 Hiroshima Summit, the response to Russia’s nuclear threats or occupation of nuclear power plants, and expressed his readiness for the cooperation.
 
5. Bilateral relations
 
(1) Prime Minister Kishida noted that Japan and Ukraine celebrated the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year, and that the bilateral cooperation is deepening and expanding due to Japan’s solidarity and support for Ukraine. On this occasion, the two leaders agreed to upgrade the bilateral relations sharing fundamental values to the Special Global Partnership.
 
(2) President Zelenskyy showed strong expectations toward the Japanese investments in various field in reconstruction of Ukraine and both leaders agreed to work for its end.
 
(3) Based on the trust between the two countries, the two leaders also agreed to start coordination for the conclusion of Japan-Ukraine Agreement on the Security of Information in order to further strengthen the bilateral relations.
 
6. Japan’s National Security Strategy and the situation in the Indo-Pacific
 
(1) Prime Minister Kishida explained that Japan formulated a new National Security Strategy at the end of last year, and President Zelenskyy expressed his high appriciation for the strategy.
 
(2) The two leaders shared serious concerns on unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas, and concurred on the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, the two leaders shared serious concerns over North Korea's increased nuclear and missile activities and confirmed that they will coordinate closely in dealing with North Korea, including on the abductions issue.