Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed resolve Monday to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis as next year's rotating president of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations.
In a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in New York, Abe said that with Ukraine and pro-Moscow rebels having maintained a cease-fire accord since Sept. 1, Japan will closely watch developments, including a four-nation summit on Ukraine slated for Oct. 2 in Paris, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The four nations are Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany.
Poroshenko thanked Abe for Japan's assistance to his country and expressed his "strong will" to promote judicial and administrative reforms and take anti-corruption measures in Ukraine. He sought Japanese investment in the country as well.
In coordination with its G-7 partners, Japan has imposed economic sanctions on Russia following its annexation of Crimea in southern Ukraine in March last year.
The G-7 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.