Japan Pledges to Increase Financial Support for Ukraine

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on April 8, 2022. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledged Tuesday that he would increase financial support to Ukraine from $100 million to $300 million amid Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine.

Kishida conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the phone that Japan will increase financial aid and defense equipment supply, including protective masks and drones, at the request of the Ukrainian government.

“In order to protect the international community and the order of peace, we will continue to work closely with the G7 and other related countries and actively develop diplomatic efforts to support Ukraine,” Kishida was quoted as saying by his office.

Japan has also offered to provide additional humanitarian aid supplies to Ukraine, which include food and medicines, his office said in a statement.

Zelensky said that they also discussed “prospects for post-war cooperation,” while expressing gratitude to Japan for its assistance.

“We see Japan as an important participant in the anti-war coalition and future security agreements,” he said in a tweet.

Japan’s government had previously offered to extend $100 million in emergency humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and pledged to accept Ukrainians who are seeking refuge in a third country.

Kishida announced in March that his government will supply Ukraine with defense equipment, including bulletproof vests and helmets, in what was considered a rare move by Japan given the country’s long embargo on defense equipment export.

The ban was overturned by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014, who allowed exports in cases that contribute to global peace and serve Japan’s security interests.

Chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the decision to supply Ukraine with defense equipment was made in accordance with Japan’s war-renouncing constitution, adding that Japan will not provide weapons to Ukraine.

“As a nation that experienced the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident [in 2011], Japan condemns [Russia’s invasion of Ukraine] in the strongest possible terms,” Kishida told reporters last month.