Ukraine’s relations with Japan have not met Kyiv’s “high expectations,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told a gathering of ambassadors Monday, months after Tokyo eased some of its onerous restrictions on the export of lethal weapons.

“We would like stronger relations with Japan. That is true,” Zelenskyy told the envoys in Kyiv. “Significant political changes took place there … and there were high expectations. However, the results so far have not been as significant — with all due respect, and we are grateful for Japan’s support — but they have not been as significant as they could have been.

“We need to address this and propose exactly how and by what means it can be done,” he added.