Ceremony marks transfer of Japan Self-Defense Force trucks to war-torn Ukraine

TOKYO -- A ceremony to mark the supply of Japanese Self-Defense Force (SDF) trucks and other equipment to Ukraine was held at the Defense Ministry here on May 24, as Kyiv continues its struggle to turn back Russia's ongoing invasion.

Based on May 21 talks between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Hiroshima Group of Seven summit, the ministry will provide Ukraine with about 100 vehicles, including half-ton trucks and high mobility vehicles (HMV). Japan is also set to give Kyiv around 30,000 emergency ready-to-eat meals of beef stew.

The supply manifest was officially handed to Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky by Japanese State Minister of Defense Toshiro Ino at the May 24 ceremony.

Ino stated that it was his heartfelt hope that the invasion would end even a moment sooner, and that daily peace would return to Ukraine. Ambassador Korsunsky said that he was deeply moved by the Japanese contribution, and that he would report the great news to Ukraine promptly.

(Japanese original by Nozomi Gemma, Political News Department)