Japan has promised Ukraine a new aid package to support its defense against the Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.
Zelensky made the announcement after meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya in Kiev, without providing further details on the size or content of the aid.
He said Japan has already supported Ukraine with $12 billion in aid.
“Japan is a true leader in Asia in defending the rules-based international order and, simply, human life,” Zelensky said in a video message.
The Ukrainian president said he spoke with Iwaya about the help Moscow receives from North Korea.
The government in Pyongyang has made more than 10,000 soldiers available to support Russian forces in the war in Ukraine. According to Ukrainian intelligence, these soldiers are being deployed along with Russian soldiers on the Kursk frontline to help Moscow reclaim the western Russian region occupied by Ukrainian forces since the summer.
“Russia is teaching North Korea modern warfare, and this could lead to far-reaching destabilization,” Zelensky added.
After the conversation with Zelensky, Iwaya met with his Ukrainian colleague Andriy Sybiha, Ukrinform news agency reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (3rd from left) meets Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (3rd from right) at Mariinskyi Palace. -/Ukraine Presidency/dpa
