The Japanese Self-Defense Force has sent bullet-proof vests and other non-lethal supplies in response to a request from Ukraine, NHK TV channel has reported.
The KC-767 transport aircraft left the Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on Tuesday night for Poland, which shares a border with Ukraine. The items also include heavy winter clothes and emergency food supplies.
This is the first time the SDF has provided bullet-proof vests to another country.
According to the Ministry of Defense, Japan plans to deliver more equipment and supplies to Ukraine once they are ready, such as food, hygiene products, cameras, power generators, tents and winter clothing.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said it was “critical” for Japan and its national security to support Ukraine.
Japan is urgently prepared to provide support to Ukraine with a loan of at least $100 million as a sign of support for it in the conditions of the buildup of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said following a telephone conversation between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Prime Minister Kishida informed that Japan is urgently prepared to provide support with a loan of at least $100 million based on the request of the Ukrainian side, and President Zelensky expressed deep gratitude for this,” the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a report on the website after the February 15 conversation.
Japan has been paying close attention to the move to strengthen Russian troops around the Ukrainian border. Japan has consistently supported Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said.
“The two leaders agreed to work together to ease tensions through diplomatic efforts,” the ministry said in the statement.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft letter to the government of Japan on the project of construction of bridge across the Pivdenny Buh river in Mykolaiv. The relevant decision was made at a meeting on Wednesday. In the explanatory note it is specified that it is necessary for official confirmation of intention and interest of Ukraine in joint implementation of this construction with the government of Japan and the Japanese agency of international cooperation, and it will also specify the priority of the project for development of Mykolaiv region and Ukraine as a whole.
The text of the letter is not provided.
As it was reported, in January, 2020 the Japanese agency of the international cooperation JICA confirmed cooperation in construction of the bridge in Mykolaiv.
JICA presented the project of construction of the bridge in Mykolaiv in June, 2018.
Japan on August 2 lifted the ban on the export of Ukrainian poultry and eggs, introduced in December 2020 in connection with the spread of pathogenic avian influenza in Ukraine, according to a Wednesday posting on the website of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
“We are not only creating new export opportunities for Ukrainian companies, but also restoring access to foreign markets that were closed for one reason or another. Such closure decisions are usually made quickly, and it takes a long effort to convince partners to reopen the market. I am glad that we managed to convince the Japanese partners of the safety of Ukrainian products, and from now on Ukrainian companies can again export their products,” the authority said, citing Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.
The authority said that the Ukrainian side informed its Japanese partners in detail about the measures taken in Ukraine to combat outbreaks of avian influenza.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran, during his working visit to Japan, held talks with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of this country Takashi Uto, during which Japan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and its readiness to continue promoting economic development and reforms.
“The talks between Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takashi Uto have just ended. The frank conversation lasted an hour. Japan confirmed its unwavering support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and its readiness to continue promoting economic development and reforms,” Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Serhiy Korsunsky wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
According to him, Taran and Uto discussed security issues in East Asia and Donbas, Japan’s participation in the Crimean Platform summit, and the threats that states face.
Also, Taran will have a meeting with Minister of Defense of Japan Mr. Nobuo Kishi.
As reported, Taran’s working visit to Japan began on March 16.
The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection of Ukraine and the authorized body of Japan have agreed on the form of the veterinary certificate for exporting raw milk and dairy products to Japan, the service said on its website on Tuesday.
“We continue work towards expanding cooperation with international partners. This is very good news for Ukrainian producers interested in the export of raw milk and dairy products: the market of one of the largest strategic partners for Ukrainian food exports – Japan – has been opened,” the head of the authority, Vladyslava Mahaletska, said.
The State Food and Consumer Service said that the website has the example of a veterinary certificate for export to Japan.
