Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I had a substantive call with my Japanese colleague Toshimitsu Motegi. 

I thanked him for his Independence Day wishes and recalled with great warmth our meeting in Tokyo two months ago. Japan has become one of Ukraine’s closest and most reliable partners, and we deeply value everything it has done to support our people throughout Russia’s full-scale war. 

We followed up on the agreements reached in Tokyo across a number of areas.  

I welcomed Japanese Prime Minister’s online participation in yesterday’s Coalition of the Willing meeting in Kyiv, and we exchanged views on strengthening our cooperation, both bilaterally and within international organizations. 

We also discussed the situation in the Black Sea, where Russia is deliberately attacking our ports and disrupting maritime routes. Unhindered access to the sea is vital for Ukraine’s national economy and remains a matter of global food security. 

Freedom of navigation in the Black Sea must be restored, and this requires consolidated international pressure on Russia and practical steps from our partners. 

While Ukraine wants to end this war, Russia has responded only by increasing its ballistic missile and drone attacks. There must be greater pressure on Russia, including targeted anti-ballistic sanctions on the entire ecosystem behind its missile and drone production. To force Russia to end this war, we need both stronger pressure on Moscow and greater support for Ukraine. 

I also thanked Japan for its vital energy assistance and readiness to continue supporting Ukraine’s energy resilience.  

We coordinated upcoming contacts at all levels, and I invited my colleague to visit Ukraine."