Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion during her first phone talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. Takaichi, who took office last month, also expressed strong backing for Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and its efforts to achieve a “just and lasting peace as soon as possible.” Zelenskyy thanked Takaichi for Japan’s contributions, including its readiness to provide equipment for Ukraine’s energy sector to help the nation withstand the winter. The two leaders affirmed their commitment to continued close cooperation.
Later on Wednesday, Takaichi held her first phone talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. They agreed to elevate bilateral cooperation in security and economic matters to “greater heights” and to deepen collaboration among like-minded nations to realize a “free, open and stable international order.”
