Japanese Foreign Minister's Unannounced Visit to Ukraine for the First Time
On Sunday, January 7, Japan's Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, made an unannounced visit to Ukraine. This marked her first trip to Ukraine and her inaugural international visit of the year. During her visit, she met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, and other high-ranking officials.
President Zelensky emphasized the significance of the Japanese Foreign Minister choosing Ukraine for her first international visit of the new year, considering it a crucial signal of support for the Ukrainian people. He expressed gratitude to Japan and the country's Prime Minister for their substantial assistance to Ukraine during the full-scale Russian aggression over almost two years, including political, humanitarian, and prolonged financial support to the Ukrainian economy. Zelensky also acknowledged Japan's effective leadership in the G7 in 2023 and their special attention to Ukraine. Additionally, he conveyed condolences regarding the recent devastating earthquake in Japan.
Yoko Kamikawa visited the memorial for victims of Russian occupation in Bucha and the city of Irpin, which served as the frontline defence of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as reported by Ukrinform. In Bucha, the minister visited the mass burial site near the Church of Saint Apostle Andrew the First-Called, and in Irpin, she visited the Romanivskyi Bridge, known as the "road of life," where nearly 40,000 residents of the Irpin region were saved during the invaders' incursion in 2022.
Following her visit to Bucha, the head of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv, where they addressed the media. Due to an air raid alarm and the threat of ballistic missile strikes, the meeting had to take place in the basement. Apart from discussing the reinforcement of Ukrainian air defences, the foreign ministers of both countries also deliberated on the utilization of Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine.
"Based on my visit, Japan intends to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation between our countries," summarized Yoko Kamikawa regarding the outcomes of her trip.
During her visit to Ukraine, Yoko Kamikawa announced the provision of five mobile gas turbine generators to Ukraine, increasing the country's electricity generation capacity by 200 MW, along with seven transformers. This equipment had already arrived in Ukraine, and Yoko Kamikawa participated in the ceremony of its handover to the Ukrainian side.
Previously, the Japanese government and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) had provided Ukraine with 1200 generators and 1000 power blocks for government institutions and emergency services. Additionally, 500 generators and 6 mobile power supply vehicles were delivered to Ukraine through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).