Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Saturday, where he was scheduled to meet with his counterpart and others to convey Japan's continued support for Kyiv amid the ongoing Russian invasion, according to the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Report informs via The Japan Times.
Iwaya’s unannounced trip comes amid growing fears about the conflict’s expansion following North Korea’s dispatch of more than 10,000 troops to Russia for combat operations against Ukrainian forces.
The foreign minister, who took up his post last month, will convey “serious concern” about the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, including Pyongyang’s dispatch of troops, the Foreign Ministry said.
Iwaya was scheduled to visit the town of Bucha, where scores civilians were killed in the early days of the war. He was then expected to hold talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Arrangements were also reportedly underway for a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Tokyo and other Ukrainian partners are watching closely how the direction of the war unfolds following the Nov. 5 election of US President-elect Donald Trump, who is due to take office on Jan. 20.
Trump has voiced criticism of US financial and weapons support for Ukraine, bragging that he will be able to end the war in a single day — although he has not offered details about how he would do so.
Japan has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in aid, while sending nonlethal defense gear to Kyiv.
It has also been among the most vociferous supporters of Ukraine following Moscow’s Feb. 22, 2022, invasion of its neighbor, with former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida repeatedly stressing the importance of beating back aggression and noting that “Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow."
Tokyo last sent its top diplomat to the war-torn country in January, when then-Foreign Minister Yoko Kakmikawa, Iwaya’s predecessor, made an unannounced visit.