Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to promise to continue supporting Ukraine amid the war with Russia.
What is known about Yoko Kamikawa's visit to Ukraine
The Japanese Embassy in Ukraine reported that this is her first foreign visit this year.
Kamikawa is visiting Ukraine for the first time since taking up this position in September. She arrived in Kyiv by train from Poland.
The minister will talk with government officials, including her Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba.
Her visit comes ahead of a conference the countries will hold in Tokyo on February 19 to discuss rebuilding Ukraine, which suffered massive destruction after the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Kamikawa is expected to reiterate that Japan's support for Ukraine "remains unchanged" and to convey his commitment to Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction through the conference.
During her visit, she will emphasise the importance of maintaining an international order based on the rule of law to prevent any attempt to change the status quo by force.
Financial assistance from Japan to Ukraine
On December 6, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced during the G7 meeting that Japan would provide Ukraine with $4.5 billion, including this additional support and credit enhancement for World Bank loans. $1 billion, in particular, will go to humanitarian aid and reconstruction of Ukraine.
On December 7, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Kyiv expects the first part of this aid — $1.5 billion — in January 2024. A significant part of this aid package will be transferred in the spring.
