For the fourth year in a row, Japan continues to provide Ukraine with significant assistance in various areas, demonstrating support in countering russian aggression. The total amount of support for Ukraine during the full-scale war exceeds $12 billion, including humanitarian, financial and grant assistance. Japan has been one of the largest donors of budgetary support to Ukraine since the beginning of the war. In 2024 alone, it provided more than $2.2 billion, including $1.5 billion in loans and $700 million in grants.
In December 2024, the Japanese government decided to transfer an additional $3 billion to Ukraine, secured by frozen russian assets. These funds will be used to restore energy infrastructure, purchase necessary equipment, and build shelters for civilians.
Immediately after the russian invasion began, Tokyo imposed a series of personal sanctions on russian individuals and legal entities. Currently, about one hundred people, including top officials, are on the sanctions list. Japan is also threatening to sanction companies operating under the jurisdiction of third countries, such as China, India, or Kazakhstan, if they are suspected of transferring dual-use products to russia that could be used for military purposes.
Tokyo announced the creation of a coordination council for the reconstruction of Ukraine, which plans to involve Ukrainian and Japanese businesses. The Ukrainian side has identified key priorities for cooperation with the Japanese government in restoring infrastructure. In particular, Ukraine called for the continuation of rail supplies to Ukrzaliznytsia, as the country needs 25,000 tons of R-65 steel rails. Japan has already transferred the same amount through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which allowed for the restoration of 200 kilometers of railroad tracks in 2023-2024. Other priority projects include the restoration of housing infrastructure with the use of advanced Japanese technologies, exchange of experience for training specialists in the transport sector, etc.
Japan will also provide more than $660 million as part of a World Bank project. These funds will be used to provide subsidies for housing and utility services and support for internally displaced persons.
In February 2025, the Japanese government approved a grant of 8.8 billion yen (approximately $58 million) to finance reconstruction projects in Ukraine. The funds provided through JICA will be used to reconstruct critical infrastructure and improve the living conditions of citizens.
On April 22, 2024, the mayors of the cities of Dnipro and Osaka, Borys Filatov and Hideyuki Yokoyama, signed an agreement to facilitate the post-war recovery of the city of Dnipro. Osaka, Japan’s second largest metropolis and host of the EXPO-2025 World Expo, has expressed its readiness to support the city in the process of rebuilding after the end of hostilities. It has already provided assistance to the city of Dnipro in the form of ambulances and other equipment.
Dnipro regularly receives assistance from the Japanese government. In June 2024, the city received a batch of humanitarian aid, including five modern Komatsu backhoe loaders and a large batch of pipes of various diameters. In February 2025, Japan sent new municipal equipment to the city of Dnipro, including water trucks, a gasoline tanker, and two heavy-duty dump trucks worth more than €1 million.
Foreign trade relations between the two countries are also developing. In the first half of 2024, Japan invested $203.5 million in Ukraine’s economy. Almost 40 large Japanese companies operate in the country, creating jobs and paying taxes to the budget.
In 2024, foreign trade between Japan and Ukraine showed positive dynamics, with an increase in volumes and strengthening of economic relations. Bilateral trade in 2024 reached $986 million, up 6% from 2023. This continued the upward trend recorded in 2023, when trade grew by almost 30%.
Ukraine exported goods worth $37.9 million to Japan in 2024. Significant growth was observed in the following categories: unprocessed aluminum (+88.1%), laboratory reagents (+149%), and toys (+135%). Japan, in turn, imported $948.1 million worth of goods to Ukraine, including cars, electronics, and industrial equipment.
The development of mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation remains an important priority for Dnipropetrovsk region. An analysis of the region’s export and import operations with Japan shows a growing level of partnership, as Japan is an important trading partner of the region.
According to the results of 2024, the volume of exports of goods from Dnipropetrovsk region amounted to $ 370.6 thousand and increased by 27.4% compared to 2023. The most popular products among Japanese consumers are leather goods, furniture, finished textiles, toys, various chemical products, etc.
Export operations were carried out by 4 enterprises from Dnipropetrovsk region, including metallurgical companies and trading companies.
Imports of goods from Japan to Dnipropetrovsk region amounted to $27.7 million and increased by 41.5% compared to 2023. Traditionally, Dnipropetrovsk region purchased machinery and equipment, land transport vehicles, optical instruments and devices, rubber, rubber, various chemical products, and more.
More than 180 importers carried out import operations.
TOP-5 importers (ranked by volume of imported products):
Import operations were mainly carried out by trade, metallurgical, processing, and machine-building enterprises.
Source: information for the article was taken from open online sources
