Us, Ukraine Ambassadors To Japan Unveil Joint Plan To Support Ukrainian Evacuees
The US and Ukrainian ambassadors to Japan have expressed their intention to support Ukrainians who have evacuated their country due to Russia's invasion.
US ambassador Rahm Emanuel and his Ukrainian counterpart Sergiy Korsunsky met with more than 20 Ukrainian evacuees, including women and children, in Tokyo on Thursday.
At a news conference held at the US ambassador's official residence in Tokyo, Emanuel noted that so many children were deprived of normalcy by violence and destruction brought upon their country.
The US ambassador also said that "mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers were trying to create a semblance of normalcy ... and to give these kids a sense of stability." He stressed the need to create an environment where evacuees can move freely and buy what they need.
He unveiled a plan to collect donations for Ukrainian evacuees living in Japan through online crowdfunding, jointly with the Ukrainian embassy in Japan.
Korsunsky noted that he advised the evacuees to "become part of the Japanese society even if it's temporary," and hoped that "they will become a bridge between Ukraine and Japan for many years to come."
On the situation in the eastern besieged city of Mariupol, Korsunsky stressed that Ukrainians will never be beaten by Russians, and even if Russia takes control of the city temporarily, Ukraine will take it back.
Japanese immigration authorities say that as of April 19, a total of 664 evacuees from Ukraine had come to Japan.