It is likely that there will not be a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia this year — or ever one at all. If negotiations stagnate, they could resemble the post-World War II relations between Japan and the Soviet Union: A peace treaty was never signed,

British foreign minister David Lammy said on Friday that Japan could help Ukraine by ramping up economic pressure on Russia, adding that Tokyo and London had a shared interest in a rules-based world order.

Opposition parties are calling for Japan to join forces with European countries that have expressed solidarity with Ukraine, but PM Ishiba has maintained a neutral stance.

The new agreement promises to boost the UK- Japan's £27 billion a year trade relationship, with particular focus on defence and AI. It comes as Japan seeks reliable partners in the wake of Donald Trump's treatment of Nato allies over Ukraine.

Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, David Lammy has urged Japan to help Ukraine by increasing economic pressure on Russia President Vladimir Putin. In a televised statement made alongside his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya in Tokyo on Friday,

The Japanese leader sought to strike a balance for Japan, the sole Asian G7 member, in its alliance with the U.S. and its longstanding support for Kyiv.

Ukraine's President Zelensky urges more sanctions against Russia as he says the strikes show the Kremlin's goals "are unchanged".

A senior official of Ukraine's presidential office has told NHK that a peace that is not just cannot be lasting and that Russia must be held responsible for its aggression.

Russia has permanently banned nine Japanese citizens from entering the country, according to a list published by the Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has urged leaders to be careful in backing any Ukraine peace process that could validate the use of force to change borders.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Italian President Sergio Mattarella agreed Wednesday to continue promoting security cooper