The Kremlin is railing against Tokyo over fears that advanced U.S.-made missile defense systems could make their way from Japan to Ukraine’s battlefields.
In a blunt caution fraught with geopolitical overtones, Russia’s newly minted ambassador to Japan lobbed a verbal bombshell. Nikolai Nozdrev bluntly warned of “severe consequences” and unspecified retaliatory measures if Patriot missile systems produced under American license end up arming Ukrainian forces.
“We will be watching with hawkish vigor to ensure the Patriots stay clear of Ukraine,” Nozdrev bellowed to Russian state media. “Because make no mistake – if they cross that line, there will be fury. Bilateral ties will be torched and Moscow’s reprisals will be harsh.”
The saber-rattling remarks escalate long-simmering tensions after Japan recently overhauled its arms export policies. The move stoked Russian paranoia that Tokyo’s domestically-produced U.S. missile tech could get funneled into Ukraine’s arsenal as the war grinds on.
While a staunch U.S. ally, Japan has stayed away from providing deadly offensive weapons to Ukraine due to its deeply rooted postwar military export principles. But its security policies are evolving amid the tectonic shocks of Russia’s invasion and fears over China’s military posturing.
Publicly, Japan has only provided non-lethal aid to Ukraine. But Nozdrev’s ominous broadside indicates Russia will view any Patriot missile transfers to Kyiv as an unforgivable escalation requiring punishment.
As Ukraine clamors for more advanced air defenses, Russia hopes drawing this stark red line can preserve a sphere of influence – no matter how brutally enforced. The consequences for crossing it, Moscow warns, could be apocalyptic for ties between the two nations.
