Kyodo News
April 19, 2022

U.S., Japan, EU leaders affirm swift support to Ukraine amid war

Leaders from the United States, Japan and the European Union agreed Tuesday to continue providing swift support to Ukraine as Russia begins a renewed military offensive in the eastern part of its neighboring country.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told his counterparts during a video call that the Japanese government will increase the amount of its loans to be extended to Kyiv to $300 million from $100 million, saying that propping up Ukraine’s economy is an “urgent task,” according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

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Kyodo News
April 19, 2022

Japan to offer protective masks, clothing, drones to Ukraine

Japan will provide Ukraine with protective masks and clothing against chemical weapons, as well as commercial drones, to support the country in its ongoing war with Russia, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

The decision was made upon a request from the Ukrainian government, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters, adding that the ministry will ship the supplies via commercial flights as soon as they are ready.

“We will continue to provide as much support as possible to the Ukrainian government,” Kishi told a press conference.

Last month, Japan offered bulletproof vests, helmets and winter battle uniforms to the war-torn nation after the government revised its guidelines on the transfer of defense equipment to make the shipment possible.

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Kyodo News
April 19, 2022

Train in Ukrainian flag colors runs in western Japan

A railway operator in the western Japanese city of Takamatsu started Tuesday running a train in the Ukrainian flag colors, in a move to show solidarity with the war-torn country and its railway staff who have been operating trains amid the ongoing conflict.

The two-car train wrapped in yellow- and blue-colored sheets, operated by Takamatsu-Kotohira Electric Railroad Co., also bore messages saying “We stand with you,” “To the Ukrainian railway operators working to protect people’s lives-” and “We wish for world peace” on both sides.