On March 15, 2024, the New Europe Center held the IV Ukraine-Japan Forum “Special Global Partnership. Ukraine and Japan in the context of Russian war”. During the event, analysts and academics from Japan and Ukraine discussed issues related to the broader security environment in which both countries are operating today, as well as bilateral relations in the context of the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine.
Namely, the discussion panels were devoted to the following issues:
- Lessons (un)learned. How the outcome on Russia’s war is seen from Ukraine, Europe and Japan
- The real power of security guarantees. What security arrangements could make Ukraine and Japan feel secure?
- From special to really special. How to upgrade Ukraine-Japan partnership according to new status of relations?
During the introductory remarks Alyona Getmanchuk, Director, New Europe Center said: “Japan is almost the only country in the world with which, by opening one door, you actually open two doors: one to Asia, the other to the G7. Over the past two years, Japan has proven that it is the most natural ally of Ukraine in Asia, and during its presidency of the G7, that it is also a reliable partner within the Group of Seven.”
Welcoming remarks were made by Kuninori Matsuda, Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine and Sergiy Korsunsky, Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan.
“National security in Europe cannot be separated from national security in East Asia and beyond Asia Pacific regions. We have already noticed that North Korea is actively helping Russia with supplies of ammunition and missiles. And if we come up with the system by which we can stop this aggression and bring justice to this war, there aren’t many more countries which surely would and could follow the examples set by Russia. So I do strongly believe that national security should be the first issue that Ukraine and Japan should tackle together”, said Kuninori Matsuda.
“Despite the fact that, unfortunately, there are problems in the world, Japan is so clearly in its position that there is not a single “Ukraine fatigue,” which some people write and talk about, and what is happening in Europe. There is no “fatigue” in Tokyo, there is no decrease in attention, it just has a different shape, a different level.”, told Sergiy Korsunsky.
Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of Presidential Office of Ukraine, Diplomatic Adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his keynote speech said: “A very important role of Japan in the implementation of the peace formula of Ukraine`s President. In particular, a strong position on the first paragraph, which concerns nuclear safety.Japan clearly opposes the fact that the aggressor country is blackmailing the whole world either by using nuclear weapons or by seizing the largest Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Europe.”
Mediapartner – Ukrinform.
Video recording of the Forum is available in Ukrainian and in English.
Detailed photo report of IV Ukraine-Japan Forum
Speakers key points:
Stay tuned. Soon, the New Europe team will publish extended key opinions of the Forum speakers.
Read more about previous forums here.
