Russia summons Japan's ambassador to protest at military supplies to Ukraine

Russia's foreign ministry said on Friday that it had summoned the Japanese ambassador over Tokyo's decision to supply military equipment to Ukraine. Japan - which has backed Western sanctions against its long-time antagonist in east Asia in response to Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine - last month promised Ukraine around 100 military-use vehicles "such as trucks", having previously given protective equipment such as helmets and bullet-proof vests.

Russia's foreign ministry said on Friday that it had summoned the Japanese ambassador over Tokyo's decision to supply military equipment to Ukraine.

Japan - which has backed Western sanctions against its long-time antagonist in east Asia in response to Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine - last month promised Ukraine around 100 military-use vehicles "such as trucks", having previously given protective equipment such as helmets and bullet-proof vests. However, Moscow said Tokyo was supplying "armoured vehicles" as well as all-terrain vehicles.

"The Japanese side was told that this step would lead to an escalation of hostilities and a further increase in the number of human casualties of the Kyiv regime," the ministry said in a statement. Japan's export rules ban its companies from selling lethal items overseas.