Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said on a surprise visit to Kyiv on Sunday that Tokyo was "determined" to support Ukraine, Ednews reports citing France 24.

Japan has joined Western sanctions against Russia and provided weapons to Kyiv.

During her first foreign trip of 2024, Kamikawa held a press conference with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in a Kyiv bomb shelter as an air siren rang out.

"Japan is determined to support Ukraine so that peace can return to Ukraine," she said, sitting at a desk in a cellar with Kuleba. "I can feel how tense the situation in Ukraine is now."

Her visit came during an escalation of attacks on both sides in the conflict.

"I once again strongly condemn Russia's missile and drone attacks, particularly on New Year's Day," said Kamikawa, the first foreign guest in Ukraine this year.

She announced that Tokyo would "allocate $37 million to provide a drone detection system".

Japan will also supply five generators to help Ukraine "survive" another winter during the Russian assault, she said.

Kamikawa and Kuleba also discussed Japan's plans to host a conference to promote Ukraine's economic reconstruction in Tokyo in February.

Kuleba in turn expressed "solidarity" with Japan for the January 1 earthquake.