The Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yoko Kamikawa, arrived in Kyiv on an unofficial visit to pledge continued support for Ukraine amid the war with Russia. According to the Japanese Embassy in Ukraine, this marks her first foreign visit this year.
According to Kyodo, Kamikawa is visiting Ukraine for the first time since taking office in September. She arrived in Kyiv by train from Poland.
The minister will hold talks with government officials, including her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba, as reported by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Her visit comes ahead of a conference scheduled in Tokyo on February 19, where countries will discuss the reconstruction of Ukraine, which suffered extensive damage after the Russian invasion in February 2022.
It is expected that Kamikawa will reaffirm Japan's unwavering support for Ukraine and express commitment to its recovery and reconstruction during the conference.
Throughout her visit, she will emphasize the importance of upholding the international order based on the rule of law, preventing any attempts to change the status quo by force.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa visited Irpin, a city that was on the frontline of the advance towards the capital. She also inspected the Irpin Bridge, which ðºð¦ had to detonate for defensive purposes.