Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Ukraine the day after Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Thus, Japan demonstrates its support for Ukraine.

This was told to Channel 24 by the head of the analytical department of the Content Analysis Center Sergey Stukanov. According to him, the visit of the Japanese prime minister to Ukraine testifies to the demonstration of Japan's unity with the Western world.

On March 21, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida arrived in Ukraine on a surprise visit. With Japan chairing the G7 this year, this visit was expected. Sergei Stukanov noted that the representatives of the Japanese government are the only ones from the “Group of Seven” who have not visited Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

The fact that he (the visit – Channel 24) happened at the very moment when Xi was in Moscow cannot be called an accident. This is indeed such a signal, which, on the one hand, should demonstrate that not all of Asia is on the side of Russia. On the other hand, it is a demonstration of the unity of the Western world not only in Europe and North America, but also in Asia. Stukanov said.

In addition, the complicated relations between Japan and China play a big role. Today, Japan, given the rise of China, may also have some misgivings about China's policies and their imperialist encroachments. Fumio Kishida's visit to Ukraine is a kind of demonstration that Japan will be in unity with the Western world.

Sergei Sukhanov on the reasons for the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to Ukraine: watch the video

Relations between Japan and Russia

Over the past decade and a half, there has been very slow dialogue between the Kremlin and Japan about the Kuril Islands, which are now under Russian control but belong to Japan. They hoped that this dialogue would continue, so Japan's position on the Russian-Ukrainian war was quite moderate and limited. However, after the full-scale invasion of Russia, this factor ceased to influence.

“The Japanese no longer seek to conduct such dialogues with the Russians, at the expense, the victim or the interests of Ukraine. Therefore, today the Japanese are helping not only humanitarianly and economically. We heard their statement that 30 million dollars will be directed directly to arming Ukraine,” Serhiy Stukanov said. .

Such a decision is a significant step forward in Japanese-Ukrainian relations, because Japan does not actually work for the military strengthening of other countries, even when it comes to their allies. Therefore, the visit of our Japanese partners is extremely weighty and will balance the visit of the Chinese leader.

Arrival of the Prime Minister of Japan to Ukraine: what is known

• On March 21, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived on an unannounced visit to Ukraine. This is the first trip by a Japanese prime minister to a country or region where fighting continues since World War II.
• Political scientist Oleg Sahakyan said that Japan will be able to lend a shoulder to Ukraine – both financially and technologically. The agenda of the meeting between Fumio Kishida and Volodymyr Zelensky was packed with time.
• The Prime Minister of Japan visited Bucha. Later, he announced the allocation of $30 million to Ukraine for non-lethal weapons for Ukraine. In addition, the Prime Minister promised 470 million to the energy sector and other industries.