Ukraine's Prime Minister Koretsky said in an exclusive interview with Kyodo News that he strongly hoped Japan would provide air-defense weapons, including interceptor missiles. Speaking in Kyiv, he called for assistance to keep homes heated during the winter and protect infrastructure.
Ukraine's Prime Minister Koretsky said he "strongly hoped for and was counting on" Japan to provide air-defense weapons, including interceptor missiles, as Russia's ballistic missile attacks intensify, and called for stronger protection of civilians and infrastructure. The interview with Kyodo News was his first interview with an overseas media outlet since taking office.
The prime minister said interceptor missiles were currently running out and civilian casualties were increasing. He indicated that peace talks mediated by the United States had stalled and that an open-ended war of attrition was continuing. He also referred to the fact that, although Japan's Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and the Operational Guidelines had been revised, arms exports during an armed conflict remained in principle prohibited.
Addressing Japan, he said, "There is only one thing I want to ask of Japan," and expressed his desire for the provision of Patriot surface-to-air guided missiles. He identified protecting the public and power infrastructure and getting through the heating season as priority objectives. He also expressed his gratitude for Japan's support for Ukraine, in his first remarks in an overseas media interview since taking office.
The background includes the scope of application of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and the Operational Guidelines, which Ukraine revised in April, as well as restrictions on the transfer of weapons during wartime. Prime Minister Koretsky said he wanted to strengthen Ukraine's winter protection capabilities with support from Japan.