KIEV, Dec. 13 - Ukraine since the beginning of 2014 has received assistance from Japan in the amount of $1.85 billion, and these funds were issued both for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other areas not related to defense and security, the Defense Ministry of Ukraine has said.

"Despite the fact that our countries are located far from each other, relations between Ukraine and Japan is the example of building effective relations. We look forward to the further development and deepening of Ukrainian-Japanese relations," Ukraine's Minister of Defense Stepan Poltorak said in talks with Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi.