Ukrainian Foreign Minister Meets with Japanese Officials
On July 10, 2026, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Japanese representatives to discuss the outcomes of his working visit to Japan, which took place from June 30 to July 2, 2026. The meeting covered several key topics:
- Support for the restoration of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra through UNESCO mechanisms;
- A grant for a scholarship project;
- Cooperation with Japanese organizations JICA and JETRO.
Also present at the meeting were Japan's Ambassador to Ukraine Masashi Nakagome, JICA Ukraine Office Head Osamu Hattori, and JETRO Ukraine Economic Advisor Shigeru Kono. During his visit, Sybiha repeatedly expressed gratitude to his Japanese counterparts, stating:
“During my visit to Japan, I kept saying 'thank you.' Today, I had another opportunity to say it to our Japanese friends. But the best way to show gratitude is to jointly implement concrete projects that strengthen Ukraine, open new opportunities for our economies, and deepen the Ukraine-Japan strategic partnership.” - Andrii Sybiha
Key Topics Discussed
The discussions also focused on:
- Ukraine's reconstruction projects;
- Strengthening energy resilience;
- Humanitarian demining;
- Healthcare;
- Education;
- Transport;
- Water supply;
- Municipal infrastructure development.
The Japanese government decided to support the restoration of the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra through UNESCO mechanisms and provided grant funding for a scholarship project aimed at human capital development.
Additionally, the parties discussed cooperation with JICA on projects related to Ukraine's recovery, as well as collaboration with JETRO to deepen ties and expand direct contacts between companies, attract Japanese businesses to reconstruction efforts, and implement agreements from the Japan–Ukraine Energy Business Dialogue forum in Tokyo. A key point of the meeting was the discussion of establishing the Ukraine–Japan Business Cooperation Desk (Kizuna Desk).
Overall, the July 10 meeting marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between Ukraine and Japan, opening new avenues for cooperation across various sectors. Japan's support—especially in restoring cultural heritage sites and developing infrastructure—highlights its growing role as a partner for Ukraine in the post-war period. This could also encourage greater Japanese investment in multiple areas of Ukraine's economy, which is vital for the country's recovery after the conflict.
In light of these discussions, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister also proposed new recovery initiatives to Japan, aiming to further enhance bilateral cooperation and support Ukraine's reconstruction efforts. This aligns with the ongoing commitment to strengthen Ukraine-Japan relations through various strategic projects.