Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Sunday expressed Japan’s continued support for Ukraine as it resists Russia’s invasion in a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore.
Kihara told Umerov that Russia’s “outrageous act is utterly unacceptable” and vowed Japan will cooperate with the international community in assisting Ukraine with “a strong sense of crisis” as what happened there could also occur in East Asia.
The Japanese defense minister was apparently alluding to a potential scenario involving Taiwan, a self-ruled island under increased military threat from mainland China, which claims it as its own territory.
Umerov, who is accompanying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Singapore gathering, expressed his deep gratitude for Japan’s support, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara (R) shakes hands with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov before their talks in Singapore on June 2, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Tokyo has provided financial assistance to Kyiv as well as nonlethal defense equipment such as vehicles, bulletproof vests and drones. Japan has also accepted wounded Ukrainian soldiers for medical treatment.
In his speech to the Asia Security Summit, better known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, Zelenskyy called for more world leaders’ participation in a summit slated for June 15-16 in Switzerland to explore measures to achieve peace in Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minster Fumio Kishida is set to attend the meeting.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy, clad in his trademark khaki green outfit, criticized China, which has been bolstering military and economic cooperation with Russia, for trying to undermine the upcoming summit and hindering peace efforts.
At a press conference in Singapore, Zelenskyy said, “Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit.”
“Regrettably, this is unfortunate that such a big independent powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelenskyy added.
Zelenskyy, who arrived in Singapore on Saturday, has met with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Indonesian President-elect Prabowo Subianto and East Timor’s President Jose Ramos-Horta, according to his posts on the X platform.
