Arab News Japan

TOKYO: SUZUKI Muneo, a member of the House of Councilors who is known for being close to Russia on Tuesday criticized the United States over its decision to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine.

Writing on his blog, Suzuki said that the reason the war had gone on so long was “support for Ukraine by Western countries.” He suggested that the US decision to supply cluster bombs to Ukraine was hypocritical.

“If Russia said it would supply cluster bombs to other countries, what would the United States say?” Suzuki wrote. “You would see a very self-serving sense of values suggesting that everything (Russia does) is bad.”

“The Oslo Treaty, which 111 countries have signed up to, prohibits signatories from using, making, or possessing cluster bombs. The United States and Ukraine are not signatories to the treaty and so believe they need not be concerned by the objections of other countries in the matter.”

Suzuki also criticized the sanctions imposed by the US and its allies on Russia, suggesting that they had had little effect on daily life in Russia.

“President Biden said Russia would give up in two months due to economic sanctions, so where is the justification for his statements?” Suzuki said. “According to reports from Moscow, civil life in Russia is stable, as if nothing untoward has happened.”

Suzuki concluded his blog post with high hopes for diplomatic moves by Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio, writing: “I believe that Japan, the G7 president, and India, the G20 president, can play a major role in bringing about a ceasefire. I hope that Prime Minister Kishida will work hard to bring about international stability.”