Prime Minister Kishida stated that he would like to establish the Enforcement Coordination Mechanism that was agreed upon to launch in the G7 Leaders' Statement of February 24 as soon as possible and to work on it proactively as the G7 Chair.
Kishida-Zelenskyy Meet Mainly Focuses on Sanctions Against Russia And Indo Pacific
New Delhi (ABC Live): On March 21
Prime Minister of Japan Kishida held a summit meeting with Zelenskyy, President of
Ukraine.
The two leaders also agreed to
strengthen their coordination and issued a Joint Statement on the Special
Global Partnership which is as follows:
Beginning
(1) Prime Minister Kishida expressed his
respect for the courage and perseverance of the Ukrainian people standing up to
defend their homeland and democracy under the leadership of President
Zelenskyy. Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan has consistently and
strongly condemned Russia, imposed severe sanctions, and provided support
standing by Ukraine.
(2) Prime Minister
Kishida told President Zelenskyy that Japan has been working closely with
President Zelenskyy in imposing severe sanctions against Russia and providing
support for Ukraine. Prime Minister Kishida also stated to President Zelenskyy
that Japan is chairing the G7 this year, and at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May,
Japan will demonstrate its determination to maintain the unwavering unity of
the G7 and to uphold the international order based on the rule of law as the
G7.
(3) Prime Minister
extended an invitation to President Zelenskyy to participate online in the G7
Hiroshima Summit since Ukraine will be one of the main agendas. President
Zelensky gladly accepted the invitation.
(4) In response,
President Zelenskyy sincerely welcomed Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to
Ukraine and appreciated the Prime Minister as the guardian of the
international order. The President expressed his appreciation for Japan's
position on the Russian aggression against Ukraine and stated his willingness
to further advance cooperation with Japan as the G7 chair this year.
Assistance to Ukraine
(1) Prime Minister Kishida stated that, in
addition to the humanitarian and financial assistance totaling approximately
1.6 billion US Dollars that has been provided since last year, Japan decided to
provide additional financial assistance of approximately 5.5 billion US Dollars
to demonstrate solidarity with Ukraine once again on the occasion of the
one-year mark of Russia’s aggression. He also stated that Japan will steadily
implement the assistance totaling 7.1 billion US Dollars to support Ukraine in
various fields, including electricity, mine clearance, and agriculture.
Moreover, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan has decided to provide assistance including new bilateral grant aid amounting to 470 million US
Dollars in the energy sector and non-lethal defense equipment assistance amounting
to 30 million US Dollars through NATO trust fund.
(2) In response,
President Zelenskyy expressed his deep gratitude for Japan’s consistent
assistance for Ukraine which amounts to more than 7 billion USD, and the two
leaders exchanged views on forthcoming assistance to Ukraine as well as its
recovery and reconstruction.
Sanctions against Russia
(1) Prime Minister Kishida noted that it is essential to continue severe
sanctions against Russia and particularly important to take measures against
evasion and circumvention of sanctions. He stated that he would like to
establish the Enforcement Coordination Mechanism that was agreed to launch in
the G7 Leaders' Statement of February 24 as soon as possible and to work on it
proactively as the G7 Chair.
(2) In response, President Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for
Japan's efforts, and Prime Minister Kishida stated that it is also important to
deter third actors from providing military assistance to Russia and that he
would like to respond in close coordination with like-minded countries
including the G7.
Response to nuclear threats and others
(1) Prime Minister
Kishida stated that Japan, as the only country to have suffered atomic bombings
during wartime, cannot accept Russia's nuclear threats and that Russia must not
break a 77-year record of the non-use of nuclear weapons. Then he stated that
he would like to strongly convey this point at the G7 Hiroshima Summit in May.
(2) Prime Minister
Kishida also stated that Russia's series of actions, including the occupation
of nuclear power plants in Ukraine, are absolutely unforgivable outrages and that
Japan supports activities of the IAEA.
(3) President
Zelenskyy asked Prime Minister Kishida to include in the agenda of the G7 Hiroshima
Summit, the response to Russia’s nuclear threats or occupation of nuclear power
plants, and expressed his readiness for the cooperation.
Bilateral relations
(1) Prime Minister
Kishida noted that Japan and Ukraine celebrated the 30th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations last year and that the bilateral
cooperation is deepening and expanding due to Japan’s solidarity and support
for Ukraine. On this occasion, the two leaders agreed to upgrade the bilateral
relations sharing fundamental values to the Special Global Partnership.
(2) President
Zelenskyy showed strong expectations toward the Japanese investments in various
fields in the reconstruction of Ukraine and both leaders agreed to work for its end.
(3) Based on the
trust between the two countries, the two leaders also agreed to start
coordination for the conclusion of the Japan-Ukraine Agreement on the Security of
Information in order to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Japan’s National Security Strategy and the situation in the Indo-Pacific
(1) Prime Minister
Kishida explained that Japan formulated a new National Security Strategy at the
end of last year, and President Zelenskyy expressed his high appreciation for
the strategy.
2) The two leaders shared serious concerns about unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas and concurred on the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Furthermore, the two leaders shared serious concerns over North Korea's increased nuclear and missile activities and confirmed that they will coordinate closely in dealing with North Korea, including on the abductions issue.