Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an agreement for Tokyo to provide long-term support for Kyiv amid Russia's prolonged war against its neighbor as they met in Italy on Thursday, Japan's government said.
The 10-year deal stipulates that Japan will continue providing support for Ukraine, such as by supplying "nonlethal equipment and goods" and "treatment of injured Ukrainian service members," among other efforts, in accordance with Tokyo's war-renouncing Constitution and related legal requirements and regulations.
Kishida also revealed a plan to host an international meeting next year to discuss how to deal with landmines being laid in Ukraine, with Zelenskyy promising "utmost cooperation" on the gathering, according to the Japanese government.
Japan has offered support to Ukraine, but it has been limited to nonmilitary assistance due to self-imposed restrictions on providing weapons under the Constitution. Meanwhile, Western countries have supplied various weapons such as missile interceptors, battle tanks and fighter jets.
Kishida and Zelenskyy met on the sidelines of a three-day Group of Seven summit in Fasano in southern Italy through Saturday. It is the second consecutive year that Zelenskyy has been invited to attend the G7 summit in person as a guest.
In the agreement, Japan pledges to "work to actively contribute to Ukraine's economic recovery and industrial modernization," while Ukraine vows to "continue its ambitious reform path" in areas such as its judicial system and anti-corruption efforts.
The two governments would also hold consultations within 24 hours, at the request of either, "in the event of a future Russian armed attack against Ukraine" to "determine appropriate next steps," according to the deal.
The agreement between Japan and Ukraine followed a joint declaration by the G7 leaders issued in July 2023, in which they promised to work with Ukraine "on specific, bilateral, long-term security commitments" and other supportive measures.
Over 30 countries in total have taken part in the declaration, and 15 nations, including five G7 members -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany and Italy -- have each signed a deal with Ukraine, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Japan and other G7 members as well as like-minded nations have condemned the aggression while boosting support for Kyiv and imposing strict economic sanctions on Moscow.
In February, Japan hosted a conference in Tokyo on the reconstruction of Ukraine, pledging 15.8 billion yen ($100 million) in grant aid to help with the restoration of electricity and other energy infrastructure, among other recovery projects. Japan and Ukraine also signed 56 memorandums of cooperation in seven areas, including agriculture and digitalization, at the event.
Kishida and Zelenskyy last held in-person bilateral talks in May 2023 on the fringes of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, western Japan.
