(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
October 18, 2024
Ministry of Defense
On October 17, 2024, for about 25 minutes from 13:30 p.m. (local time), Minister of Defense Nakatani held a meeting with Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov, as outlined below.
- At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Nakatani expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to hold talks with Minister Umerov for the first time since his appointment and stated that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine not only causes tremendous suffering to Ukrainian people, but also undermines the very foundation of the international order that international community has built up over a long period of hard work and many sacrifices and that Japan has been strongly promoting severe sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine.
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He also informed Minister Umerov that Ministry of Defense of Japan has decided to provide additional SDF vehicles to Ukraine. Minister Umerov expressed again his deep gratitude for the continuous provision of SDF equipment to Ukraine and accepting injured Ukrainian soldiers.
- Minister Nakatani stated that Russia, while continuing its aggression against Ukraine, is also intensifying its military activities in the Far East region, including the area surrounding Japan, and Japan is watching such activities, including military cooperation with China, with grave concern.
- The aggression by Russia violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and is a serious violation of international law, including the UN Charter, which prohibits the use of force, and such unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force are unacceptable acts.
- The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will continue to support Ukraine as much as possible in cooperation with the international community.
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