MoD talks further security cooperation with Japan’s envoy

Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration Oleksandr Balanutsa and Japanese Ambassador Matsuda Kuninori discussed further security cooperation between the two nations and the recently signed Agreement on Support for Ukraine.

That’s according to the MoD press service, Ukrinform reports.

The deputy minister expressed gratitude to Japan for political and economic support to Ukraine and noted the importance of maintaining partnership relations with the East.

"Japan is also a member of the Mine Action Coalition and the IT Coalition – we look forward to your active participation and transfer of possible equipment," he noted.

The delegations also discussed the importance of joining Ukraine to the Shangri-La Dialogue. Kuninori emphasized the importance of the participation of President Volodymyr Zelensky in this year's forum.

The ambassador said that, although Japan is not a member of NATO, it supports Ukraine's path to Euro-Atlantic integration.

Balanutsa, for his part, emphasized that Ukraine's accession to the European Union and NATO is "first of all about the standards and values ​​promoted by the state, not the hope of protection by other people's hands."

The Ukrainian side, among other things, thanked the Eastern partners for their assistance in the rehabilitation of the defenders of Ukraine and emphasized the need to increase the amount of this assistance in view of the intensity of hostilities.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, at the G7 Summit in June, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan signed a security agreement.

The document lays down the provision of non-lethal equipment and goods to Ukraine, treatment of wounded Ukrainian servicemen, and cooperation in the field of intelligence in the security and defense sector.