The New Europe Center held its third advocacy visit to Japan since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

During February 18-20, numerous high-ranking meetings were held in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, with representatives of the Prime Minister’s security team, with the leadership of JiCA (Japanese USAID), with representatives of large Japanese business, numerous experts and leading media.

“At all official meetings, there is an assurance that despite the change of government in Japan and the US Administration, Tokyo’s policy of supporting Ukraine remains unchanged and the fixation of the aid already provided to Ukraine (at the level of $12.1 billion)”, said Alyona Getmanchuk, Director of the New Europe Center.

Such a political decision is quite logical reflecting the mood in Japanese society: since the first year of a full-scale war, the level of support for Ukraine has been about 80%. Currently, the main direction of support is the humanitarian sphere.

Many questions from Japanese partners concerned Ukraine’s relations with the United States. The Japanese at the level of Prime Minister Ishiba received assurances from Trump that America remains a reliable security guarantor, and at meetings with the expert delegation they radiated confidence in this regard. However, Washington’s dramatic diplomatic efforts to end the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the rapid devaluation of American allies and alliances in the world, as well as statements about the possible introduction of tariffs by the United States, in some places, began to undermine outwardly unshakable peace.

“Obviously, Tokyo will do everything to ensure that its security alliance with the United States is preserved and even strengthened under Trump, but do not forget about such facts from history as that Japan at one time was the only G7 country that opposed the expansion of this format to the G8 by including the Russian Federation”, Director of the New Europe reminded.

According to Alyona Getmanchuk, they discussed both urgent and very specific needs of Ukraine, as well as ideas where it would be possible to strengthen the Ukrainian-Japanese partnership, which is increasingly gaining signs of strategic, although formally still remains “special global”.

The advocacy visit to Japan was carried out by the New Europe Center with the support of the “Renaissance” International Foundation.