MOSCOW, December 27. /TASS/. If Japanese-made missiles for Patriot air defense systems end up in Ukraine, it will deal a heavy blow to Moscow’s relations with Tokyo, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
"It is possible that the transfer of Patriot munitions [by Japan to the US] will go under a well-proven scheme whereby munitions ultimately end up in Ukraine. In connection with this, we would like to warn that if Japanese missiles fall into the hands of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, such actions will be viewed as unambiguously hostile toward Russia and will entail the most serious consequences for Japan in the context of bilateral ties," she said at a news conference in comments on Japan’s decision to allow exports of Patriot missiles to the US.
Zakharova also warned that Japan's exports of lethal weapons to the US would "have tangible negative consequences for global and regional security."
"It is obvious that the decision that was taken primarily serves the interests of Tokyo’s ally the US. In this case, the Japanese side is not only stepping over its own principles, but also largely losing control over the weapons, which Washington can now utilize literally as it wishes," she went on to say.
"Military supplies to the Kiev regime, both direct and indirect, only lead to the prolongation of its agony and further increase the number of innocent victims and atrocities of the Kiev regime, the responsibility for which will be fully shared by the Japanese government," the diplomat stated.
On December 22, Japan relaxed the rules for exporting defense equipment, allowing the export of Patriot missiles to the US and 155 mm artillery rounds to the UK. This used to be only allowed for supplies of equipment parts to the US. The revisions will allow supplying completed defense items to the license-holding countries.
The changes do not permit direct re-export of military equipment to third countries that are involved in an armed conflict, but will help replenish inventories that have shrunk in the wake of transfers to Kiev. Also, the relaxed rules will give the US a chance to supply its own Patriot missiles to Ukraine and its partners in Europe, if they provide their weapons to Kiev. This means Ukraine will indirectly benefit from the move. The Japanese Foreign Ministry said the US would have to obtain Tokyo's consent before transferring any Japanese-made Patriot missiles to third countries.