National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke today with Akiba Takeo, Secretary General of Japan’s National Security Secretariat, to prepare for the President’s meeting on January 21 with Prime Minister Kishida and to discuss the ongoing situation in Russia and Ukraine. The two discussed key issues in the U.S.-Japan Alliance, and our respective approaches to North Korea, China, and economic issues in the Indo-Pacific. Sullivan underscored concern about the possibility of further Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the two concurred on the importance of solidarity in signaling to Moscow the strong, united response that would result from any attack. 

###