From special to strategic. What are the key elements for transforming global special partnership between Ukraine and Japan into strategic one?
This was the title of the third and final discussion panel of the Fifth Ukraine-Japan Forum on March 5, 2025.
Speakers discussed:
- How bilateral relations under “special global partnership” have been upgraded in practice?
- Perception of Ukraine in Japan after 3 years of “big war” and how to transform support for Ukraine into crucial political decisions?
- What role Japan is already playing in Ukraine’s recovery process and what role it could play after the war ends?
- How attitudes to Japan have been changed in Ukraine — on the level of political elites and society?
- Ukraine’s path to the EU membership as an important prerequisite for more solid relations with Japan.
Below are the key messages of the speakers:
Hideki Matsunaga, Chief Representative, JICA Ukraine office:
Japan has not engaged in any war over the last 80 years. We have lived in peace, which has resulted in a certain degree of risk aversion. When it comes to large companies, there are very stringent regulations, making them somewhat reluctant to enter the Ukrainian market. What we are trying to do is expose these companies to the great opportunities available in Ukraine.
One of my missions is to promote Ukraine as a land of opportunity. In recent months, I, along with JICA, have been guiding and inviting many Japanese private-sector companies to Ukraine. Some company presidents and senior executives, after visiting Ukraine, have become convinced that significant opportunities exist there. In this regard, JICA also aims to facilitate the mobilization of Japanese and other foreign companies to engage more actively in recovery and reconstruction efforts while the war continues.
Regarding the energy sector, we want to assess the gaps, monitor developments, and do our best to bridge them. We have some budget constraints, but we are committed to doing more. The international community needs to consider the energy sector and infrastructure very seriously.
Right now, Japan is involved in recovery and reconstruction efforts across many sectors, such as energy, demining, debris removal, health, education, and transport. We are trying to fill the gap here caused by the Russian aggression.
When discussing private sector mobilization, we often hear a pessimistic perspective. Large-scale participation of private sector will likely not be possible until the war ends. That may be true, but I believe these arguments focus too much on challenges rather than opportunities.
Kuninori Matsuda, Former Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine (2021-2024):
We need to enhance our cooperation after the war. It’s high time for Japan to start considering how to participate in security guarantees together with European partners. There may be many limitations on what Japan can do during wartime, but once a ceasefire is achieved, I believe Japan should and could do more.
Japan and Ukraine need to do more in terms of defense cooperation. This war has at least convinced people in Japan, particularly experts in government and academia, of the need for enhanced defense cooperation between Ukraine and Japan.
Bilateral cooperation in the defense industries of Japan and Ukraine is a highly promising area. The Ukrainians very much advanced over the three years in the area of the development of the drones. Japan needs to learn from Ukraine about drones. Japan can consider providing our own AI and robotics technologies to Ukraine.
Japan should consider sending ceasefire observers or even the Self-Defense Forces to be involved in peace and security guarantees.
The involvement of the small and mid-sized companies from Japan is very important. With all due respect to major corporations, Japanese small and mid-sized companies are far more willing to take risks. And those small and mid-sized companies are rather concentrated in Osaka and Kansai and the western part of Japan. So, I keep telling my colleagues in the Ukrainian government to consider opening either a trade office in Osaka, the second largest city in Japan, or a small general consular office. Either way, it will help Ukrainian businesses connect with Japanese small and mid-sized companies.
Olena Halushka, Co-Founder International Center for Ukraine’s victory:
I would like to discuss three important issues related to the Ukraine-Japan partnership: the participation of Japanese business in the reconstruction of Ukraine, increased support for Ukrainian civil society, and the confiscation of Russian assets.
Participation of the Japanese businesses in the Ukrainian recovery. The companies originating from the countries that are supporting in establishing the real lasting peace in Ukraine and help reconstruct – Japan, European countries, and the US should be here and be part of the recovery.
The checks and balances system in Ukraine. After the USAID departure, we truly hope that European states and maybe Japan can step up their support for the Ukrainian civil society sector. Because this is the long-term guarantee that the Ukrainian democratic transformation will remain being on track. The second super important pillar, which is presently endangered, is the support for the energy system. This sector will likely need strong reinforcement and strong extra support.
Confiscation of Russian frozen assets. Right now, this is the moment, now or never, because either the money will work for peace in Ukraine, Europe, and keeping the international world order, or via various tools and instruments, the bad actors will get the lifting of the sanctions, which would mean that money will return to Russia.
Yuliya Dzyabko, Associate Professor, Ibaraki Christian University:
In Japanese society, there has been a high level of solidarity with Ukraine over the past three years, averaging around 70%. This is primarily due to the official support of Ukraine by the Japanese government and the backing of Japanese media.
Around three thousand Ukrainians have found refuge in Japan during the war. This marks a historic first for a country that has traditionally not been very active in accepting refugees. Furthermore, since last year, over a thousand Ukrainians have been granted temporary protection status, which allows them access to the Japanese labor market and social programs.
There is significant media support for Ukraine in Japan, and the image of Ukraine remains positive. However, the challenge is that solidarity is often built on emotional factors. The Japanese continue to sympathize with Ukrainians, and the more tragic the news, the higher the level of solidarity. When there are no such tragic events, the level of solidarity decreases. This raises the question: how can Ukraine remain at the center of attention? It is crucial not only to highlight the tragic aspects of Ukraine’s situation but also to revisit the historical background of this war. It is necessary to emphasize that this war is not the first Russian aggression against Ukraine and to communicate the cyclical nature of these historical events and the high risk of their recurrence in the future.
There are eight Ukrainian organizations in Japan, and just in the past year, three more were established. All of them work to develop a positive image of Ukraine in Japan. The Ukrainian community in Japan is small, with only 4,000 people, making up 0.1% of the 3 million foreign residents. However, they are very active, which is also an important factor
Moderator Leo Litra, Senior Research Fellow, New Europe Center:
On the one hand, Ukraine would like to attract investments from all the countries that see Ukraine as a land of opportunities. But when it comes to reconstruction, it’s common sense for a Ukrainian audience to expect that countries that supported Ukraine should participate in the process. Japan is a very welcomed partner, whereas I see a rather negative attitude towards a country like China.
We hear that there is interest from China to participate in recovery, but there is also widespread unease and skepticism. Many people ask, “Why should we allow a country that has been hostile to Ukraine in certain ways to profit from reconstruction?”. I would like to see our friends to help with reconstruction above all, but this will be one the issues that will have to be discussed in the Ukrainian society at some point.
Cultural track, university track – I think this is the bond which we need to develop if we want our relations to be sustainable. And it is really important to think on how to turn the solidarity into something permanent, sustainable and functional for years to come.
More about the V Ukraine-Japan Forum: https://cutt.ly/oryQswnW
Video recording is available in Ukrainian (https://cutt.ly/zrydEo2X) and English (https://cutt.ly/ArtOBrZC).
