Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese ambassador over Tokyo’s decision to supply military equipment to Kyiv

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador to Russia Toyohisa Kozuki in connection with the decision of the Japanese government to transfer military equipment to Ukraine, in particular, armored vehicles and all-terrain vehicles. About it says in a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

“The Japanese side was told that this step would lead to an escalation of hostilities and a further increase in the number of human casualties of the Kyiv regime,” the statement said.

The Russian ministry also warned the Japanese side that in connection with such a step, the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida should be ready to “share his responsibility for the death of civilians”, including in the border areas of Russia, due to the use of foreign equipment for shelling by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They noted that Tokyo’s decision “drives bilateral relations even deeper. [с Москвой] into a dangerous cul-de-sac.”

At the end of May, during a meeting with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida informedthat Tokyo will transfer to Kyiv 100 self-defense vehicles, including trucks, as well as 30,000 food rations, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

The Russian authorities have repeatedly criticized the supply of weapons to the Ukrainian army. In particular, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, warned that pumping Ukraine with weapons brings NATO closer to the dangerous line of a direct military clash with Russia.

How emphasized Kyodo agency, the Japanese authorities provide financial assistance to Kyiv and provide only humanitarian and medical goods, as well as defense equipment – bulletproof vests and helmets. The self-defense forces are prohibited from supplying weapons and military equipment to other states by the country’s Constitution, the agency noted.

At the same time, in April, the Ministry of Defense of Japan reportedthat Tokyo will give Kyiv masks and clothing for chemical protection, as well as drones.