Japan PM Takaichi Joins Ukraine Peace Meeting Online

Tokyo, Oct. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi joined online Friday a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing” for peace in Ukraine, expressing Tokyo’s unwavering support for the European nation that continues to suffer from Russia’s invasion. She said Japan will continue economic sanctions on Russia and support for Ukraine in cooperation with the international community. This was the first diplomatic event for Takaichi since she took office Tuesday. The Coalition of the Willing mainly comprises European countries. The Russian aggression is an outrageous act that shakes the foundation of the international order, Takaichi said, underscoring Japan’s consistent stance of standing by Ukraine. The meeting, held in London, was attended by leaders of more than 20 countries, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Takaichi told reporters after the meeting, “I received words of congratulations from leaders of many countries on my inauguration as prime minister.” She also said the world leaders welcomed the fact that the Coalition of the Willing meeting was the first diplomatic event for her. Starmer, who chaired the meeting, told a news conference that Takaichi’s participation was of great significance, stressing that her choice of the meeting highlighted the Coalition of the Willing’s power to unite many countries. Starmer said that the participants agreed to ratchet up pressure on Russia. He criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for being “not serious about peace.” “We will act to take Russian oil and gas off the global market” to choke off funding to Russia’s war machine, he said. Starmer also said that the participants confirmed that seized Russian assets will be used for the defense of Ukraine. Attending the same news conference, Zelenskyy said that it is up to the United States to decide, responding to a question about U.S. President Donald Trump’s cautious stance about providing U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. Zelenskyy also emphasized the need for the international community, including the United States, to unite against Russia, saying that keeping up pressure on Moscow is the only way to end the war. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]