KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met members of Japan’s House of Representatives on October 1 to discuss bilateral cooperation and joint projects that could deepen ties between Ukraine and Japan.
The Japanese delegation was led by Itsunori Onodera and included lawmakers Keitaro Ohno and Yoshiaki Wada. Japan’s ambassador to Ukraine, Yo Osumi, and former ambassador Kuninori Matsuda also participated, according to the Office of the President of Ukraine.
Economic and humanitarian support
Zelenskyy thanked Japan for what he described as strong support since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The President specifically highlighted Japan’s economic and humanitarian assistance.
The meeting took place after another period of Russian aerial attacks on Kyiv. Zelenskyy told the delegation that its members had been in the capital during the attacks and therefore had been able to experience the security conditions facing Ukrainians. He referred to continuing Russian drone attacks, strikes against infrastructure and the October 1 strike on a Kyiv school.
Discussion of future cooperation
The official statement said the two sides discussed joint projects intended to strengthen both countries. The Presidential Office did not publish a detailed project list in the October 1 release, so the scope and financing of specific initiatives remain to be announced.
The talks nevertheless fit a broader pattern of growing Ukraine-Japan cooperation in economic assistance, reconstruction, humanitarian support and security-related coordination.
Earlier Zelenskyy–Takaichi talks
Zelenskyy also referred to his recent meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York. According to the Ukrainian Presidency, the two leaders discussed ways to expand bilateral relations and cooperation related to the security of Ukraine, Japan and other democratic states, and agreed to remain in active contact.
Why it matters
Japan has become an important non-European partner for Ukraine. While Tokyo’s support operates within Japan’s own legal and defense-policy framework, its economic, humanitarian and reconstruction role gives it significant importance for Ukraine’s long-term recovery.
The October 1 visit also carried a political message: high-level foreign delegations continue traveling to Kyiv despite the risk of Russian strikes, while Ukraine is working to convert political support into longer-term bilateral projects.