In Tokyo on Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida welcomed Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to discuss the reconstruction of Ukraine amidst the ongoing war. Japan has pledged a new bilateral tax treaty and support for Japanese businesses as the conflict in Ukraine persists.
During the talks, Kishida stated, “Japan has stood with and continues to stand with Ukraine,” and announced the new bilateral tax treaty as well as the beginning of negotiations for an investment treaty without providing specific details.
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine now in its third year, Japan has committed over $10 billion in financial aid in an effort to demonstrate solidarity with Kyiv’s war efforts. However, legal constraints prevent Japan from offering direct military assistance or the export of lethal weapons.
While Japan partially relaxed its arms export regulations in December, marking the first significant change in nearly a decade, restrictions on shipping weapons to countries at war still remain in place.
Shmyhal, speaking through a translator, expressed that the meeting signifies a new era in Japan-Ukraine relations and conveyed gratitude for Japan’s support, emphasizing that Ukrainians will always remember Japan’s assistance. He also expressed hope for major car manufacturers such as Toyota to establish production facilities in Ukraine.
During the reconstruction meeting, Kishida pledged Japan’s support for venture capital companies in Ukraine, the relaxation of visa controls, and the opening of a new office in Kyiv by the government agency JETRO.
Approximately 50 Japanese companies entered into agreements with Ukrainian counterparts at the conference, covering various sectors including agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. However, the total value of the deals was not disclosed.
(Reporting by Sakura Murakami. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
