Russia will consider it a “hostile act” if the Patriot missiles that Tokyo wants to send to the US are ultimately delivered to Ukraine, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman warned on Wednesday.
“We would like to warn that if Japanese missiles end up in the hands of the Ukrainian army, it will be considered a hostile act that will have serious consequences for Japan in the context of bilateral relations,” Maria Zakharova said.during his weekly press conference.
Moreover, Japanese weapons exports to the United States will also have “tangible negative consequences for global and regional security,” he added.
“It is clear that this decision primarily serves the interests of Tokyo’s American ally. In this case, Japan not only ignores its own principles, but also largely loses control of a weapon that Washington will literally use in any way from now on. want to,” the Russian spokeswoman argued.
According to Maria Zakharova, “military supplies to the Kiev regime, both directly and indirectly, only prolong its pain and increase the number of innocent victims and crimes of the Kiev regime, a responsibility that now also falls on the shoulders of the Japanese authorities will fall”.
Japan announced on Tuesday its intention to export surface-to-air missile interception systems to the United States after Washington made the request, citing shortages due to military aid to Ukraine.
To comply with the request, Tokyo relaxed Japan’s export rules in this area, maintaining the ban on sending weapons to countries at war, but authorizing their shipment to countries that already had the patent, as is the case with the Patriot .
Transfer to a third country requires permission from Tokyo.
The Russian military offensive on Ukrainian territory, launched on February 24, 2022, plunged Europe into what is considered the worst security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Source: DN
