Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan Foreign Minister HAYASHI Yoshimasa on Tuesday strongly criticized Russia’s threat to use nuclear weapons and said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s hardline stance makes negotiation almost impossible.

“President Putin has repeatedly tried to justify Russia’s aggression of Ukraine and has offered no signs of compromise or change in its hardline position,” Hayashi said at a press conference replying to a question from Arab News Japan on if diplomacy has a chance to end the war. “In order to have Russia cease its aggression as soon as possible and to draw a pathway toward dialogue, we need to work in solidarity with the international community, including the G7, and maintain strong sanctions against Russia while supporting Ukraine.”

“Russia’s aggression has shaken the very foundation of international order that the international community over many years has been trying to establish through diligent efforts and much sacrifice.”

Hayashi also said: “We have deep concerns over the threat of nuclear weapons by Russia,” he said. “The threat of nuclear weapons, let alone their use, must never be tolerated.”

In other matters, Hayashi said there was no change in the status of the Afghanistan Embassy and ambassador in Tokyo and that nothing had been heard from Kabul.

Meanwhile, in Syria, the Japanese Embassy remains close and diplomatic matters are being handled from Beirut. Hayashi said there were no plans to change the situation in Syria at present.