Japan-Ukraine Relations

　On September 20, commencing at 11:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m., September 20, local time) for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a meeting with H.E. Mr. Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, at the United Nations Headquarters. The overview is as follows.

1. At the beginning, Prime Minister Abe stated he was pleased to see President Poroshenko again after meeting in April this year, and President Poroshenko expressed his gratitude for the Japanese side’s hospitality when he visited Japan in April.
2. In addition, given that both countries are members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the two leaders shared the view that they will collaborate closely in the international arena, including on the adoption of a new sanctions resolution on North Korea.
3. With regard to the situation in Ukraine, Prime Minister Abe reiterated the importance of full implementation of the Minsk Agreements and acceleration of internal reforms, and explained that Japan will continue supporting Ukraine’s reform efforts, centering on the approximately 1.85 billion dollars of assistance it has announced. As concrete examples of that, Prime Minister Abe explained that from October Japan will provide approximately 9,000 sets of cold weather jackets and trousers for police officers, and will dispatch a survey mission on logistics and the transport system, which is scheduled for November.
   In response, President Poroshenko expressed gratitude for Japan’s political and economic support for Ukraine.
4. Additionally, the two leaders shared the view that they will prepare well for the “Year of Japan in Ukraine” in 2017, which is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Ukraine.