Japan Urges Ukraine to Implement Ceasefire

Tokyo, April 6 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urged Ukraine on Wednesday to fully implement a ceasefire agreement reached with pro-Russian separatists in February last year. It is necessary for the ceasefire agreement to be fully implemented, Abe told Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in a meeting in Tokyo. Poroshenko said that his country is making efforts to do what needs to be done. Abe said Japan will provide Ukraine with 3.5 million euros to help finance the construction of an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident in the former Soviet Union. Abe also told Poroshenko that Japan is set to steadily implement 1.85 billion dollars in economic assistance to Ukraine, saying that Japan wants to support Ukraine's reform efforts. The two leaders reaffirmed opposition to changing borders by force. At a joint press conference after the meeting, Poroshenko said he is glad to see Japan make a clear comment about Russia's illegal occupation of Crimea. Abe told Poroshenko that as the host of the Group of Seven summit in May, he aims to lead discussions on the Ukraine situation. Poroshenko said he appreciates that. This is the fourth meeting between Abe and Poroshenko, who became the first Ukrainian president to visit Japan since pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych lost power in 2014. END