Japan vows to respond 'decisively’ to a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine – Moscow ‘puzzled’
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that a new Russian invasion of Ukraine would trigger a “decisive” response from Tokyo, during a conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden on Jan. 21.
During the conversation, the two leaders reportedly discussed the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and agreed on punitive measures against Russia should the Kremlin choose to launch a further invasion of Ukraine.
“The leaders (of the United States and Japan) are closely aligned on concerns about Russian threats, and Prime Minister Kishida indicated that Japan would be with the United States going forward in sending a clear message — deterrent message — with respect to Russia’s potential actions in Ukraine,” read a White House statement on the discussion.
Japan’s efforts to prevent Moscow from occupying more Ukrainian territory left the Russian Foreign Ministry “bewildered,” said a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson in a statement responding to the call.
“It was with bewilderment that we read reports of Japan threatening Russia with some kind of ‘decisive action’, to be ‘coordinated with the Unites States and other allies and partners.’ Such proclamations are clearly unacceptable and pointless, not to mention counterproductive for Russo-Japanese relations.”
Russia has faced harsh criticism from many nations since the Kremlin began troop buildups near the Ukrainian border in early October, and the United States and many NATO member states have insisted that they will provide Ukraine with support in the face of any further Russian aggression.
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