Top Ukrainian officials have expressed gratitude to Japan for its readiness to provide 4.5 billion dollars' worth of additional aid for the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted his message of thanks on social media on Thursday. This comes after Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced the assistance during a Group of Seven online summit on Wednesday.

Zelenskyy wrote that the additional aid will be important for rebuilding Ukraine and its economy.

A video message from Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal was shown when the country's Ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky met reporters in Tokyo on Thursday.

Shmyhal said the cooperative relationship between Ukraine and Japan has reached a special level, "offering new horizons for the further development of the mutually beneficial cooperation and friendship."

Ambassador Korsunsky told reporters it is extremely important that the international community, especially Japan, is leading efforts to support Ukraine's energy infrastructure, when it is facing another "difficult winter."