Mori appeared before the Rada wearing a vyshyvanka and thanked Ukraine
Eisuke Mori, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Parliament, arrived in Ukraine and, for the first time in history, addressed the Verkhovna Rada in its session hall. During his meeting with Ruslan Stefanchuk, he spoke about support for Ukraine, strengthening air defense, and Russia’s responsibility for the war.
Eisuke Mori, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Parliament, visited the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. At a meeting with Parliament Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk, they discussed continued support for Ukraine and the issues currently of greatest importance to the country. They specifically discussed strengthening the defense of Ukraine’s airspace. They also addressed how to hold Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine.
One of the notable details of the visit was that Mori arrived at the Verkhovna Rada wearing a vyshyvanka. Stefanchuk described this not merely as a symbolic gesture, but as a personal sign of respect for Ukraine and its people. “Today, Mori came to the Verkhovna Rada wearing a vyshyvanka. This is more than a gesture—it is a very personal sign of respect for Ukraine and solidarity with our people,” Stefanchuk said.
The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada also thanked his Japanese counterpart for his work on developing relations between Ukraine and Japan. He specifically noted Mori’s personal support and the assistance Japan is providing to Ukraine. According to Stefanchuk, the total amount of Japanese aid to Ukraine has already exceeded $20 billion. “We truly feel Japan’s support. We feel this support not only in words but also in concrete actions,” emphasized the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada.
For his part, Eisuke Mori said he had long dreamed of visiting Ukraine and had now been able to fulfill that dream. He expressed his respect for the Ukrainian people, their courage, and their patriotism. The Japanese speaker also assured that his country would continue to do everything possible to promote peace in Ukraine. During the meeting, the parties focused not only on general statements of support. They also discussed Ukraine’s specific needs, particularly strengthening air defense and protecting Ukrainian airspace from Russian attacks.
Another important topic was Russia’s responsibility for the war against Ukraine. The parties discussed the need to hold the aggressor accountable. Mori’s visit was also historic for the Ukrainian parliament. He became the first Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Japanese Diet to address the Verkhovna Rada directly in its chamber.
During his address, Mori also recalled the events of 2011. At that time, Japan experienced a powerful earthquake, a tsunami, and an accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Ukraine was one of the first countries to come to Japan’s aid following this tragedy. Fifteen years later, Mori personally thanked the Ukrainian people for their solidarity at that time. Now, he said, Japan is reciprocating Ukraine’s support. This involves not only assistance during a full-scale war but also participation in the country’s reconstruction.
The meeting at the Verkhovna Rada served as yet another confirmation of the close relations between Ukraine and Japan. The countries continue to cooperate and support one another, and the Japanese side has stated its readiness to continue assisting Ukraine. Stefanchuk announced this on Facebook.
