This was emphasized by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk during a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda.
Ruslan Stefanchuk congratulated Japan on the beginning of its presidency in the G7 and expressed hope that Ukraine will be able to join the work of the association in all possible formats, including the parliamentary one. He also noted that Ukraine counts on Japan’s support as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2023-24 on issues on the organization’s agenda related to Ukraine’s victory in the war against russia.
At the same time, the Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament thanked Japan for supporting Ukraine from the first days of full-scale aggression.
“Thank you for being with Ukraine today, and together we condemn this unprecedented war crime committed on the territory of our country, together we stand up to the aggressor so that democratic values and peaceful coexistence will eventually take precedence,” Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized.
The participants of the meeting discussed important issues related to further cooperation between the two countries, in particular in Ukraine’s fight against the russian invasion. In this context, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine called on his Japanese colleagues to join the support of President Zelenskyi’s peace formula and take patronage of one or more of its points. According to Ruslan Stefanchuk, this formula is intended to unite the efforts of states to achieve peace, because “only together can we establish peace, which will testify to the victory of democracy in this world.”
The meeting also touched upon the issues of military assistance to Ukraine, financial and humanitarian support, and strengthening of sanctions against russia. In particular, the Ukrainian side thanked for the introduction of a number of sanctions packages and restrictive measures, expressing expectations that they will be strengthened in the future to limit the aggressor’s ability to wage war.
The interlocutors also discussed the issue of Japan’s participation in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
“It would be valuable for us if Japan, which is known worldwide for its technology and investment projects, came to Ukraine with its support so that we could demonstrate together that the rebuilding of Ukraine is a success story for the whole world,” Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized.
In response, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda expressed his admiration for the courage of the Ukrainian people and the courage of the Ukrainian Parliament, which continued to work in difficult conditions of war. He assured his Ukrainian counterparts of Japan’s readiness to use all international platforms, including the UN and the UN Security Council, to keep Ukrainian issues, including reparations and russia’s responsibility for its crimes against Ukraine, on the world's permanent agenda.
He also said that the Japanese government is currently working on a new package of assistance to Ukraine, including humanitarian, financial and defense aid, and that the next round of sanctions against russia has already been announced.
As for the restoration and reconstruction of Ukraine, according to the diplomat, Japan will do everything possible to make it effective. Japan is also ready to take an active part in the economic recovery of our country. In particular, Kuninori Matsuda said, in order for his country to participate in new projects, a professional agency is already starting to work at the Embassy of Japan in Ukraine to help with the post-war recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.
