The foreign minister of Japan made an unexpected visit to Ukraine, where he met with President Vladimir Zelensky on Sunday. Yoko Kamikawa expressed Japan's unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine and announced the delivery of new defense equipment. President Zelensky expressed gratitude towards Japan, referring to the nation as a vital and steadfast partner. However, Zelensky also emphasized the importance of continued aid from Europe, addressing a conference in Sweden remotely.
During this critical time, Zelensky stressed that joint weapons production on a larger scale is necessary to establish a robust arsenal that defends freedom in Europe. The urgency of his plea was magnified by the fact that just a day before, on Sunday, a devastating missile attack rocked an eastern Ukrainian town. These strikes were part of a series of escalated attacks by Russia in recent weeks.
As the new year dawned, Russia's assault on Ukraine persisted from the air. In the town of Pokrovsk in the eastern part of the country, missile strikes claimed the lives of at least 11 civilians, including five children. The strikes reduced buildings to rubble, with two houses completely destroyed and numerous others damaged. Rescue operations are currently underway to search for survivors and assess the extent of the damage.
Ukraine has accused Russia of intensifying attacks on both ground and air in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths of nearly 120 civilians and injuries to almost 500 more since December 29, according to reports from the United States. Alarmingly, the U.S. alleges that Russia has even employed missiles procured from North Korea to attack Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine. While Moscow has yet to comment on these accusations, Ukrainian authorities investigating the wreckage have not conclusively determined the origin of the missiles. However, they suspect that the missiles were either provided by North Korea or produced using technology and blueprints supplied by Russia to third-party countries or North Korea.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrated Orthodox Christmas amidst this ongoing assault on Ukraine. He met with families of Russian soldiers who lost their lives in the conflict, assuring them of Russia's unwavering support. Putin expressed pride in the 'courageous, heroic guys' who are defending the country's interests on this sacred holiday. Despite suffering significant losses, Russia shows no signs of relenting, while Ukraine braces itself for another year of arduous and protracted warfare.
In the face of this grim reality, it is crucial for the international community to rally behind the beleaguered nation of Ukraine, providing support and assistance to help protect its sovereignty and safeguard its people from further harm.
