New York: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has exacerbated concerns of a “rule of lawlessness” around the world.

Speaking at a U.N. Security Council high-level meeting in New York, Kishida urged Russian troops to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from Ukraine.

He also showed Japan’s hope to continue to make a positive contribution to the establishment of peace in Ukraine.

The Russian deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus and the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine “pose a threat to world peace and stability,” Kishida said.

“Russia’s nuclear threats, let alone its use of nuclear weapons, are unacceptable,” the prime minister said.

He condemned Russia “in the strongest terms” for invading the neighboring nation, saying, “We must not forget that the aggression against Ukraine has caused serious problems such as refugees, food and energy insecurity and threats to nuclear safety, and has led to suffering for many people around the world.”

Reiterating that “Japan stands with Ukraine,” Kishida expressed support for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“It is essential to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine conforming to the principles of the U.N. Charter in order to protect an international order based on the rule of law,” he said.

JIJI Press