On December 23, Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, President of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, received a courtesy call at party headquarters from Ms. Halyna Mykhailiuk , Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and Co-Chair of the Japan–Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship League, who was visiting Japan.

Also present were Mr. Yurii Lutovinov, Ambassador of Ukraine to Japan; Mr. Yoshihiko Okabe, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Kobe (Professor at Kobe Gakuin University); and from the CDP side, Mr. Yosuke Suzuki, Deputy Director of the International Department.

President Noda welcomed Ms. Mykhailiuk , who visited Japan amid continuing difficult circumstances, and said in his greeting, “I hope that Aonishiki, a Ukrainian-born sumo wrestler who was promoted to Ozeki in professional sumo, will become a Yokozuna next year and be able to return to a peaceful homeland.”

He also stated that unilateral changes to the status quo by force can never be tolerated, expressed his position that support for Ukraine will continue, and confirmed strengthened cooperation.

Ms. Mykhailiuk   expressed her gratitude at the outset for support for Ukraine from the Japanese government, the National Diet, and the Japanese public. She stated that for a ceasefire and peace to be realized, Russia must stop its attacks. She also requested that Japan, like the G7 countries, ease travel restrictions to Ukraine and make even greater efforts in reconstruction support.

The meeting also included exchanges of views on support for Ukraine through the winter season, among other topics.