Japan guarantees to ‘lead the world’ in combating Russian aggression with $5.5 billion in Ukraine assist | CNN

Tokyo
CNN
 — 

Japan pledged $5.5 billion in humanitarian assist to Ukraine on Monday, practically quadrupling the amount of cash Tokyo has promised to Kyiv since Russia invaded its neighbor practically a yr in the past.

“Japan is able to lead the world’s efforts to assist Ukraine in its battle towards Russian aggression and to uphold a free and open worldwide order based mostly on the rule of legislation,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated Monday.

Tokyo had beforehand pledged to ship Kyiv $600 million in monetary help and $700 million price of humanitarian assist together with medical provides and meals help. It additionally joined Western allies in imposing strict sanctions on Russia over its invasion.

Final summer season, Kishida stated in a speech that Russia’s invasion gave warning that “Ukraine at this time could also be East Asia tomorrow” – and he echoed that language Monday.

“Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine isn’t just a European matter, however a problem to the principles and rules of your complete worldwide neighborhood,” he stated.

He added that Japan faces its “most extreme” safety surroundings since World Battle II, citing North Korea’s rising nuclear missile program and “makes an attempt to unilaterally change the established order by power within the East and South China Seas.”

Kishida didn’t title specifics, however Tokyo has seen itself more and more at odds with Beijing over islands claimed by each Japan and China within the East China Sea. In the meantime, Kishida and different Japanese officers have beforehand stated that peace throughout the Taiwan Strait is of utmost significance to Japan’s safety.

Late final yr, Kishida introduced a big enhance in Japanese navy spending and Tokyo’s intention to amass long-range weapons to counter threats to Japan’s safety.

Kishida additionally introduced on Monday that he’ll host a web based summit of G7 leaders with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, the primary anniversary of Moscow’s invasion and forward of the annual G7 summit in Hiroshima in Might.

The Japanese chief stated Hiroshima was an applicable venue for the summit as town was the positioning of an atomic bombing throughout World Battle II and Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is elevating new nuclear fears.

“On account of Russia’s actions, the world now faces an actual risk from nuclear weapons,” Kishida stated. “It is very important convey the fact of the atomic bombings to the world, together with the G7 leaders, as the start line for all efforts towards nuclear disarmament.”