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Military operation in Ukraine

Japanese government spokesman refrains from commenting on tank supplies to Ukraine

Deputy General Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers Seiji Kihara also pledged that Japan will continue humanitarian assistance to both Ukraine nd neighboring counties

TOKYO, January 26. /TASS/. A Japanese government spokesperson has refrained from commenting on the US’ and Germany’s plans to supply tanks to Ukraine and Russia’s reaction to that.

"There are a lot of data about the situation in the armed conflict and I would refrain from any comments," Deputy General Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers Seiji Kihara said at a regular briefing on Thursday. He said he was aware of Washington’s and Berlin’s statements about plans of further comprehensive assistance to Ukraine in close cooperation.

Touching on the Japanese government’s position, the spokesman reiterated that Tokyo plans to cooperate with the world community and support the anti-Russian sanctions to "pave a path to dialogue." He also pledged that Japan will continue humanitarian assistance to both Ukraine nd neighboring counties.

On Wednesday, the United States announced its plans to supply 31 Mi Abrams tanks to Kiev, while the German government confirmed its intention to send 14 Leopard 2 tanks from its own reserves and to allow reexport from other countries. Plans to send tanks to Ukraine were also announced by Norway and Slovakia. Earlier, the United Kingdom, France and Poland announced their decisions to supply Kiev with tanks.

The German government decided earlier to send 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine. Apart from that, Berlin will allow reexport from other countries. Russia’s Ambassador to Germany Sergey Nechayev slammed this decision as "extremely dangerous," as it "raises the conflict to a new level of confrontation."

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said on Tuesday that Russian forces would destroy US Abrams tanks, like other NATO weaponry if they are supplied to Ukraine.

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Japan Military operation in Ukraine

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