Ukraine seeks Zelenskyy-Takaichi talks on UN sidelines to boost defence ties
Kyiv has asked for a meeting between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the UN session in New York to discuss defence cooperation.
Ukraine has formally requested a side-event meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi while both leaders attend the United Nations gatherings in New York. The Ukrainian side hopes to deepen defence collaboration, especially in drone capabilities and to obtain additional interceptor missiles as its current stock dwindles. Japan’s government replied that it is considering arranging the summit, which would mark the inaugural encounter between Zelenskyy and Takaichi since she took office in October 2025.
Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi earlier expressed optimism that Tokyo could supply the needed missiles. During a recent visit to Kyiv, House of Representatives Speaker Eisuke Mori said Zelenskyy had asked Takaichi to come to Ukraine, and sources expect Zelenskyy will also press for stricter Japanese sanctions on Russia.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 EU ministers clash over budget cuts as frugal states demand higher ambition
- Sep 12 President Volodymyr Zelensky called the EU's move to consider easing sanctions on Russian billionaires immoral and self-destructive as the bloc struggles to renew the measures before the September 15 deadline.
- Sep 13 Prime Minister Mark Carney will travel to Strasbourg to speak to the European Parliament after the commission president’s address.
- Sep 14 In response to the July 30 surge of about 80,000 irregular migrants into Ceuta, the European Commission is preparing stricter migration measures that could be unveiled in the upcoming State of the Union address.
- Sep 14 Ursula von der Leyen delivered her State of the Union speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, outlining the bloc’s priorities for the coming year.
- Sep 15 EU Coreper authorized a week‑long postponement of the sanctions expiry.
- Sep 16 The speech is expected to address AI, climate change, summer wildfires, Russia's war in Ukraine, Middle‑East conflicts, international trade tensions, and online child protection, and she will present a draft law to limit
- Sep 16 Czarnek’s proposal to withdraw Poland from the EU ETS was filed in the Sejm.
- Sep 17 Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada to become the EU’s first associate member.
- Sep 17 The European Commission will disburse €3.3 billion to Ukraine for missile and drone purchases, announced by Ursula von der Leyen following a call with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- Sep 18 Negotiations remain deadlocked as frugal states and cohesion allies continue to clash over budget priorities.
- Sep 20 The Commission is now expected to bring the emergency asylum suspension idea to the State of Union address.
- Sep 22 EU announced a €3.3 billion release for Ukrainian missile and drone purchases.
- Sep 22 Latvia announced it will not back the proposal to delist Usmanov and Fridman, prompting an emergency cabinet meeting.
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