“Japan to Supply 100 Military Vehicles and Food Rations to Ukraine – Latest News and Updates”

TOKYO – Japan will supply about 100 military vehicle the Ukraine . Tokyo is seeking to provide equipment for wider military use, rather than the helmets and hazmat suits it has previously sent to Ukraine.

In a ceremony at the Japanese Ministry of Defense, Wednesday (24/5/2023), two half-ton trucks were exhibited. Japanese Deputy Defense Minister Toshiro Ino presented documents to Ukrainian Ambassador Sergiy Korsunsky listing the three types of vehicles included in the donation.

“We hope the invasion ends as soon as possible and peaceful daily life returns,” said Ino. “We will provide as much support as possible,” he continued, as quoted by AP.

The donation, which also includes 30,000 food rations, comes as the Japanese government is trying to relax its policy of transferring military equipment under a new national security policy. This policy allowed the Japanese military to play a larger offensive role, in the major post-World War II breakthrough.

While other countries have provided Ukraine with tanks, missiles and fighter jets, Japan limits its donations to non-lethal equipment, as its transfer policy prohibits the supply of lethal weapons to countries at war.

Previously, Japan had provided Ukraine with bulletproof vests, helmets, gas masks, hazmat suits, small drones and food rations since the Russian invasion began last year.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida promised the truck to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when they met in Hiroshima on Sunday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit. Japan also offered to treat injured Ukrainian soldiers in a Japanese military hospital.