Speech of Masashi Nakagome, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine, at the Fifth Ukraine-Japan Forum “Strengthening the Special Global Partnership. Ukraine and Japan on the Path to Victory and a Just Peace”, held on March 5, 2025.
It is a great honor to address you today at the Fifth Ukraine-Japan Forum. In light of the astonishing diplomatic events and changes, it is more important than ever to strengthen and deepen the cooperation between Japan and Ukraine. This forum provides a crucial platform for discussing the pressing challenges facing our two nations and the broader international community.
At the outset, let me reaffirm that despite the rapidly evolving global landscape, Japan’s position on Ukraine remains steadfast. As a strong and unwavering supporter of Ukraine over the past three years, Japan will continue to stand firmly with Ukraine in its time of need.
On the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Prime Minister Ishiba reiterated Japan’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine at the International Summit “Support Ukraine.” Japan remains resolute in its belief that this war is not merely a conflict—it is an outright act of aggression against a sovereign state. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is an egregious violation that violates the very foundation of the international order. Japan firmly opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force—whether in Ukraine, East Asia, or anywhere in the world.
The security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is deeply interconnected. Russia’s deepening cooperation with North Korea in its war against Ukraine underscores the global ramifications of this conflict. North Korea is supplying Russia with ammunition, missiles, artilleries, and even troops, with casualties now reportedly reaching into the thousands. It is inconceivable that North Korea would commit these resources without expecting something in return. Japan is gravely concerned about the implications of the growing military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Japan’s own security environment is becoming ever more challenging. Today, this forum will discuss the emergence of what some describe as the “Four Horses of the Apocalypse” alliance. Of these, three are geographic neighbors of Japan.
East Asia is a region with several states possessing large-scale military capabilities, including nuclear weapons. While there are potentials for improved ties between Japan and China, significant challenges persist, including China’s unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea, including the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, as well as in the South China Sea. Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are also important.
North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments remain wholly unacceptable. As mentioned earlier, its growing military cooperation with Russia—including the deployment of North Korean troops to Ukraine—poses serious concerns not only for Ukraine, but also for regional security surrounding Japan.
Additionally, last year saw active Russian military activities around Japan, including the violation of Japanese airspace by Russian aircraft and joint military activities with China in the air and at sea around Japan.
In response to these challenges, Ishiba Administration has reaffirmed the Japan-U.S. alliance as the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy and security. On February 7, Prime Minister Ishiba visited Washington, D.C., for a summit meeting with President Trump, where they agreed to work closely to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific and to elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance to new heights. Thankfully, the summit proceeded without major surprises.
On the other hand, the Ukraine-U.S. summit last Friday took many by surprise. However, as President Zelensky emphasized, it remains both possible and essential for the two nations to work together.
Achieving peace in Ukraine is an immensely complex challenge – one that demands patience, compassion, and unwavering commitment. It requires sustained efforts and close cooperation among all involved parties. A just and lasting peace can only be achieved through such dedication.
Japan firmly believes that unity among key international players is essential to this goal, and we are committed to playing our part in maintaining and strengthening that unity. We closely follow ongoing diplomatic efforts, including the international summit on Ukraine held in London last Sunday and the European Council meeting on March 6.
Japan remains resolute in its commitment to working alongside Ukraine and international partners, striving to achieve a just and enduring peace as swiftly as possible.
Now, let me turn to Japan-Ukraine relations. The year 2024 was a landmark year in our bilateral partnership. Following the highly successful Japan-Ukraine Conference for the Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction in Tokyo last February, our leaders signed the historic Japan-Ukraine Accord in June, elevating our relationship to an unprecedented level.
Over the past year, high-level exchanges between our two nations have increased significantly. Japan has welcomed visits from Ukraine’s Prime Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister, while Japan’s Foreign Minister, Education Minister, and Justice Minister have all visited Ukraine. These engagements reflect the depth and resilience of our partnership.
Japan remains unwavering in its commitment to supporting Ukraine. To date, the Japanese government has provided over $12.4 billion in financial, humanitarian, recovery, and economic assistance. Most recently, on February 27, I had the honor of signing an exchange of notes with Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration, Mr. Kuleba, regarding Japan’s fourth emergency recovery package—worth 8.8 billion yen (approximately 63.3 million US dollars)—as part of our FY2024 supplementary budget.
Recognizing the importance of fostering stronger economic ties, the Japanese government actively encourages Japanese businesses to engage with Ukraine. Last October, JETRO established its Kyiv office, and Japan sent multiple business delegations to explore business and trade opportunities. I am pleased to announce today that a business mission from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism is currently in Kyiv, meeting with Ukrainian officials and business leaders to further strengthen our economic cooperation.
Looking ahead, I am optimistic that 2025 will be another milestone year for Japan-Ukraine relations. Despite the unprecedented pace of global change, I firmly believe that we can and must continue to deepen our partnership in the coming year.
Japan will host the Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC 2025) in Tokyo this autumn, and Ukraine will participate in the Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025. These events will provide invaluable opportunities to further solidify our already strong and growing partnership.
In closing, I wish for the utmost success of today’s forum. I look forward to insightful discussions and valuable exchanges among our esteemed speakers.
More information about the V Ukraine-Japan Forum can be found at this link.
