President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and Foreign Minister of Japan Takeshi Iwaya discussed the strengthening of sanctions against Russia and the threats posed by North Korea's cooperation with Russia, Ukrinform reports.
“I have just met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan: he is on a visit to Ukraine. And what's important is that this is his first visit to another country immediately after the new Japanese Government was appointed – a visit to Ukraine. This is symbolic – in terms of our relations, Ukraine and Japan, – and very practical: this war in Europe is now decisive in many ways for the whole world,” Zelensky said.
He thanked Japan for its support to Ukraine, which has already reached $12 billion.
“We also discussed that North Korea has now become Russia's accomplice and is helping Putin in this illegal war. I informed him about the North Korean military's activities in the Kursk region, about all the threats posed by Pyongyang and Moscow's cooperation. Russia is training North Korea in modern warfare, and this can cause a much wider destabilization. We must counter this together and with all our other partners,” Zelensky stated.
He also noted a new support package from Japan.
“Of course, we talked with the Japanese Foreign Minister about strengthening sanctions against Russia, about our economic cooperation with Japan, about reconstruction and about ways of bringing a just peace closer,” the President said.
Zelensky added he is also preparing for a conversation with the new Prime Minister of Japan.
As reported, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya arrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit on Saturday, November 16.
Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Japan Andrii Sybiha and Takeshi Iwaya have agreed to increase sanctions pressure on Russia and work on further visa liberalization.
Sybiha said this at a joint briefing with his Japanese counterpart in Kyiv, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine noted that the parties discussed in detail the modalities of Japan's involvement in the practical implementation of the Victory Plan and the Peace Formula, as well as the implementation of the accord on support for Ukraine and cooperation.
“We agreed to increase sanctions pressure on the aggressor state. Since the invasion began, Japan has imposed 26 packages of sanctions against individuals and legal entities of Russia and Belarus. We will continue to work to prevent sanctions evasion,” Sybiha said.
