British, Japanese PMs discuss situation in Ukraine

Prime Ministers Fumio Kishida of Japan and Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom have discussed the situation in Ukraine in their first phone call following the appointment of the new British prime minister.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry said this in a statement, Ukrinform reports.

The ministry quoted Kishida as telling Starmer that Japan would work with the UK to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law in the current challenging global security environment.

"The two leaders concurred that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable and affirmed their close collaboration. [...] In addition to their cooperation within the G7, the two leaders exchanged views on regional affairs including the situations in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and in East Asia, as well as on various global issues," the statement reads.

Starmer during his first international phone calls discussed support for Ukraine with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the leaders of several NATO countries.