Nato, Japan reaffirm support for Ukraine

Tokyo, Feb 1 (EFE).- Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi reaffirmed their support to Ukraine through ongoing sanctions against Russia at a meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday.

“Regarding the response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, both sides shared the view that it is important for comrades to continue to unite and continue to impose sanctions against Russia and support Ukraine,” according to a joint statement by the two leaders posted on the Japanese foreign ministry’s website.

Stoltenberg expressed his desire “to continue promoting cooperation in various fields between Japan and Nato as partners that share fundamental values.”

The Nato leader and Hayashi also agreed to work closely together on the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Stoltenberg concludes his official visit to Tokyo on Wednesday.

He also met Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday and promised to strengthen ties with Tokyo to counter the “challenge” posed by China’s increasing military influence in the Asia-Pacific region and its growing closeness with Russia.

The Asia tour of the Nato chief, who also visited Seoul on Sunday and Monday, is aimed at strengthening collaboration between the alliance and the main partners of the United States in the region.

On Wednesday, Stoltenberg gave a speech at Keio University in Tokyo where he said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made a serious mistake by underestimating the courage of the Ukrainian people and of Nato and its allies, in response to a question from one of the students.

During his visit to Seoul on Monday, the Nato secretary general also discussed with the South Korean government ways to expand security cooperation in the face of challenges posed by North Korea and China, and called on the country to send weapons to Ukraine. EFE

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