Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Ukrainian Member of Parliament Oleh Seminskiy said he hopes Syria will prosper after years of war, while his colleague Galyna Mykhailiuk reminded journalists at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan that Ukraine’s former dictator, like Syria’s, also escaped to Russia after being deposed.

“We fervently hope that the recent changes in Syria will usher in a period of prosperity, and we are equally hopeful that justice will not only prevail in Ukraine but also in Syria. The suffering of countless civilians in recent years, under the previous regimes and the crimes committed on Syrian soil, demand justice,” Mykhailiuk passionately declared at a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.

When asked about the possibility of Russia returning former President Bashaar Assad to Syria to face justice, Mykhailiuk did not mince her words. “It’s difficult to predict Russian actions, which often defy human understanding due to their extreme violence and inhumanity,” she stated, clearly condemning such behavior.

Seminskiy pointed out that former Ukrainian leader Viktor Yanukovych is also in exile in Russia, and Ukraine wants to bring the former president back to Ukraine to face justice.

Seminskiy emphasized that Ukraine is seeking assistance from Japan, particularly in disaster recovery. He pointed out that Japan, as a leader in innovation and with extensive experience in rebuilding after natural disasters, could provide valuable insights for Ukraine’s own recovery efforts.

Following the contentious meeting with US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in Washington, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was criticized for his attire, Mykhailiuk shared a lighter moment she had with the president. She recounted how Zelensky, in response to the criticism, joked, “Sorry, I’m not wearing the costume.” This anecdote serves to humanize the president and provide a different perspective on the meeting.

“President Zelensky behaved with dignity,” Mykhailiuk said of the White House clash. “He didn’t do anything wrong. After these negotiations in the White House, his support among Ukrainians increased.”