TOKYO, April 3. /TASS/. Moscow will respond quickly and in a clear-cut manner should the surface-to-air (SAM) missiles that Japan supplies to the US for the Patriot air defense (AD) system wind up being deployed in Ukraine, Russian Ambassador to Tokyo Nikolay Nozdrev said in an interview with TASS.

"Hypothetically, as we have already seen with other countries, no option can be ruled out," he said, when asked if Japan’s missiles could end up being used in Ukraine. "If such data is received and confirmed by specific and reliable evidence, Russia will take retaliatory actions on various tracks. We are making such plans. We would like to avoid such a scenario but we will act in a quick and clear-cut manner if the need arises," the envoy pointed out.

In response to a question on whether Russia’s retaliatory measures might include sanctions on Japan, Nozdrev said: "Earlier, we introduced counter-sanctions in a number of areas, including those that are sensitive for Japan."

In late 2023, Japan eased its rules for the export of defense equipment, making it possible to supply missiles for Patriot systems to the US and 155 mm artillery shells to the United Kingdom. According to Japan-based observers, the move will help boost support for Ukraine. Although the easing of Japan’s export rules does not permit the re-export of equipment to third countries involved in armed conflicts, it will create an opportunity to replenish the stocks that have been depleted due to aid shipments to Ukraine. In addition, the US, in particular, will be able not only to send its own Patriot missiles to Ukraine but also to provide them to its European partners that have been supplying weapons to Kiev.