Press Releases
Reception hosted by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Occasion of the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC 2025)
October 22, 2025
On October 22, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan hosted a reception at the Iikura Guest House on the occasion of the “Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC 2025),” welcoming H.E. Mr. Oleksii SOBOLEV, Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, as well as representatives from various countries and international organizations.
- At the beginning of the reception, Minister MOTEGI referred to the outcomes of the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC 2025) and expressed his hope that through this conference, a wide range of stakeholders from Japan and abroad would be organically connected, and that their expertise and human resources would be utilized more effectively for future mine action efforts in Ukraine.
- Following that, after introducing Ms. Jerry Heil, who has been appointed as the Ambassador for Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine, Minister SOBOLEV delivered remarks and proposed a toast. He expressed his gratitude to Minister MOTEGI for hosting the UMAC2025 immediately after taking office. He then expressed his appreciation to all participating countries including those which announced additional assistance today at the conference and the EU, the host of the next year.
- By deepening exchanges among participants from both Japan and Ukraine as well as from other countries and international organizations, the reception provided an opportunity to identify Ukraine’s concrete needs and to exchange views on the shape of practical cooperation toward mine action and reconstruction in Ukraine.