Ukraine Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, left, shakes hands with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida during their joint news conference at the foreign ministry's Iikura guest house in Tokyo on Monday. Klimkin flew into Japan on Monday, the first visit to Japan by a Ukrainian cabinet minister since Russia's annexation of Crimea in southern Ukraine in March last year.
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17 Comments
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Chuichi Hashimura
They get on very well together.
nath
The pressures that Ukraine is under makes Greece's situation look like a walk in the park. Here's hoping they can get through this with their democracy intact.
CH3CHO
I am not at all convinced if Japan should side with Ukraine on Crimea. Rather, I think Japan should stay neutral. There is no exit if Japan sides with Ukraine. Yet, Abe just makes foolish decisions so easily.
paulinusa
Ukraine and Japan shaking hands. Putin is probably shaking his fist.
dcog9065
IMF announced a $40 billion aid package to Ukraine which is heavily underfunded, hopefully Japan can contribute to this to help stabilise Ukraine, maybe even assist in some infrastructure development
Olegek
Sorry to trouble you - but you can't help Ukraine
Why ? Because Ukrainian economy was a part of Russian before 2014.
More than 300 years territory of modern Ukraine was a part of Russian Empire. So it's quite normal.
How independent Ukraine make money in good times ? They took resources from Russia for special prices, use it in production process (most of industry was in South-East with Russian population)
Then Ukraine sell goods - mainly in Russia.
Intresting ?
This is why it is impossible to " integrate" Ukraine in EU.
This is why it is useless to give them money.
Ukrainian economy today stopped without Russian resources and Russian market.
By the way as a result of economic sanctions Russian economy need more foreign currency (credits are not more availble in EU&US)
So Russian economy (as much more stronger) sucked out last currency from Ukraine ( and not only Ukraine)
Real funny situation - anyway as a result of sanction you kill Ukraine long time before Russia
(and not only Ukraine but some other countries in East Europe. ) RIP .
Jandworld
A small and an important nation ( out of 200? Or so) are shaking up?
FizzBit
Definitely a smart enough guy "a Moscow-educated physicist". Definitely pro-EU. It could take 20 plus years to fully integrate with the EU. I just hope he's smart enough to the see the waste and folly in trying to eliminate the East-Ukrainians. The svoboda party certainly don't like him.
Kabukilover
Ukraine is the most corrupt country in Europe. Just the kind of friend Japan needs fright now.
Furan
As someone who benefits from Russian oil and gas (even more now because of EU sanctions), Japan would do well to stay neutral. Japan doesn't need any bad blood with Russia, nor will it do any good to ally with a country where Neo-Nazism (Svoboda) is getting more and more power. Japan has a historical responsibility not to ally with them.
nath
@Furan And Japan has a historical responsibility not to ally with Neo-Nazi Russia.
So you admit that Putin only understands violence and needs to be pummeled into submission, huh? Because there is enough firepower arrayed against him to do that...
Furan
dcog9065
@Olegek: Definitely true, but Russia also has a stake in Ukraine's economy being stable too right? From energy and other primary produce, to services and cross border travel, Russia is heavily invested in Ukraine and would be loathe to cut them off completely, especially considering Russia's economy is experiencing a lot of issues too.
Olegek
Of course it was a not one way road .
Russia had a huge interest in Ukraine economy because it was a part of Russian economy.
Two countries - one economy.
But from 1991 Ukrainian government moves only in one direction - out of Russia
And Ukrainian government did nothing to create new economy, independent from Russian.
So in 2014 Ukraine made a last step - and broke any political ties with Russia
But from 1991 step by step Russian government build economy without Ukraine
After 2004 - first Maydan - this process was speeded up.
So - this divorce of course hurt Russia but not so hard
dcog9065
@Olegek: Which makes Russia's actions look so much more irrational. Do you really think Ukraine will ever be politically aligned with Russia again after all this? Economic ties will continue, but Ukraine's move to the West is all but guaranteed now that Russia has violated Ukraine so shamelessly..
Olegek
And can be political and economical ties totally, absolutely independent ??
For example today S Korea trade with China bigger than with Japan&USA together ...
But S Korea politically totally oriented toward USA .. And Chinese gently asking Koreans , why ?
But as you know - Korean products selling throughout the world
Ukrainian products as a rule can be selled only in Russia.
And Korean able to buy the row matireals and oil&gas on open market
Ukrainian just can't do this