"The West is still afraid." Interviews with Ambassador to Tokyo Korsunsky - about the nuclear threat with the Russian Federation and increasing assistance to Ukraine from the United States and Japan

Video of the day - let's start with the safety of Ukraine. A number of American intellectuals appealed to the US authorities and called President Joe Baiden "to equip Ukraine until it is too late. " Among them, for example, General Philip Bridlav, Wesley Clark, Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine John Herbst, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, William Taylor, Maria Jovanovich, who was also the ambassador of the United States in Ukraine, Kurt Volker.

These are all known names and they expressed their concern about what is happening.

How do you regard this signal of the US military, strategists, analysts, intellectuals? - For all the huge, really unprecedented, the help provided by the United States of Ukraine, we clearly understand that the scale of this assistance is just as much as to restrain the invasion, to cause serious harm to the Russians, the Armed Forces of Russia, especially in the occupied territories of Ukraine, but they are all all It is not yet sufficient to go on a decisive offensive and start the release of these territories.

Russia is a collective farm on clay feet that they are unable to exhibit a professional army, which they have told the world or appropriate weapons. At the same time, they are able to cause serious harm and serious loss of Ukraine for a long time, destroying infrastructure, killing civilians. With such pain every day you see these reports from Kharkiv, from Odessa, especially being so far, not being able to personally participate in person to restrain this invasion. It hurts to look at it.

But we understand that in Russia this strategic depth exists, unfortunately. They have now transferred their military-industrial complex [to work] around the clock. Of course, they produce the equipment of the day yesterday, but it kills. Therefore, of course, we would like to have a modern weapon that would make any further shifts. Over the last two months, there are no changes on the collision line, where the main fighting is underway.

Ukrainian Armed Forces are perfectly holding this line and reflecting these attacks. But we understand that the Russians are regrouping, preparing. They will do everything to make Putin on his 70th anniversary (be it cursed) to deliver a gift in the form of territories, some success.

So now, I think, all the thoughts of the Ukrainian side [concentrated] to have sufficient reserve reserve in case of active action of Russia in order not only to restrain but to reject, and to reject, and as we all hope, to go on a counter -offensive and to release at least Kherson , start the movement to liberate the south of Ukraine.

In this case, such a call to the US official administration is justified, because the administration, with all that completely unprecedented assistance, could theoretically accelerate the provision of the necessary weapons to Ukraine. - What is the strategy for arming Ukraine so much to restrain that the country does not die, and not to resolve this issue.

Is it a certain fear of nuclear potential? Is this what is called the fears of some large -scale escalation? What restrains the issue of Russian occupation is much more energetic? - You are right, it's all together. And of course, no one believes in any word either Putin or [Minister of Defense of Russian Sergiy] Shogu, no [Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey] that there are no plans for the use of nuclear weapons. It's all nonsense. We have heard all this many times, especially before February 24.

I remember how many Ukrainian diplomats were monitored by every official statement made by the UN Security Council, Russian ambassadors in different countries, including Russia's ambassador to Japan. And many other officials said, "What is the attack, what is the war, what do you talk about?" And all this happened. The same is happening today when they say "what nuclear weapons, we see no need, there are no prerequisites. " Such a danger exists, it is real.

Just as the real danger of a nuclear catastrophe at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Station, which we have been talking about for many months. And only now did the world pay the right attention to it. We cannot be sure that any guarantees or assurances given by Russia will be fulfilled. Therefore, it is quite clear: the event is still afraid, does not understand by the end the scale of this catastrophe, this war.

He still fears that Russia can apply steps that will finally destroy the beautiful comfortable world in which Western Europe, the European Union, lives. And only our closest neighbors understand well what can happen. That is why we see such unprecedented support from Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Baltic countries that are near us. They know exactly what will happen. Unfortunately, all this is the idea that Putin will stop at some point in time.

There are different opinions about this, including those who say that Putin's surroundings (as Hitler's surroundings were looking for in Switzerland in some separatic negotiations) are looking for some talks with the West in order to keep his face or something. Honestly, I would not believe any word. There is no reason to believe that they sincerely consider this so -called "special operation" as a mistake.

Most likely, this so -called liberal part of Russian society hates Ukraine, believes that we are anecraine, notorious, under -public. Therefore, I think that the only way is still the appropriate weapons of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the resistance that we have to organize in order to force this horde to get back to our territory and stop threatening Ukraine and other European countries.

- Is this appeal of American famous people, politicians, will the United States administration increase assistance to Ukraine? - As in every public address, there is an element of PR and there is an element of self -identification. For some reason, I am absolutely sure that Baiden's administration understands very well, especially after the publications of The Washington Post and the information that preceded this war. They are clearly aware of who and what they are dealing with.

There are simply some traditions in the United States - creating public opinion, some pressure on their opponents. If we look at this appeal, it is mostly from the democratic camp. Most likely it is to strengthen the position of Biden's administration in Congress. In the United States, the new financial year begins in the fall. The budget is now being formed for the next year and this budget will certainly apply to Ukraine's support. The same is happening in Japan, we monitor the same process.

Such appeals show the position of a certain intellectual part of the society to which they listen to support the next budget steps, which next year should ensure our defense capability. This should be considered faster as an internal political process in the United States, which indicates that there is a need to support the formal position of the administration by public opinion.

Why not speak part of the former US and US Congress officials who demonstrate that Ukraine needs and deserves additional support next year, as the war has not gone anywhere and continues. We need to fight to the end. -Japan is in the Far-Dalician East, but it is part of Western civilization by its policy, by defensive concept.

In your opinion, Japan could help Ukraine in military plan? -Unfortunately, for the supply of weapons, this is not possible today due to the presence of Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan, which denies the war as a way of resolving international disputes. This is further due to a number of government decisions and regulations that make it impossible to supply weapons.

Oh time, I can say with the absolute confidence that Japan has provided, provides and will support our armed forces with non -lethal means. This support is provided now and today. It can be more significant, less important, more present in public space or less present, but believe that Japan provides very serious help and we continue this work with them every day. It will continue, there is no doubt.

There is a political decision [the Great] seven, which says that Ukraine will receive assistance until it wins. And this is an extremely important decision that was made, which countries seven adhere to. Japan will be presented in seven next year from January 1. We are already working with it that not only this decision, but additional steps are envisaged for the rebuilding of Ukraine, in support of it.

With Japan, we are talking faster not about weapons, but about participating in the reconstruction of Ukraine, because it is the strength of Japan. It is one of the world's largest assistance providers, one of the largest investors in the world, but those countries that are involved in international financial institutions and providing loans for reconstruction. Japan will certainly play this role in Ukraine, there is no doubt. And we have to use it, it is done.

There is such an understanding that Japan, if not provides military assistance, then all other types of assistance (humanitarian, reconstruction) will be very strong, expressive and significant on the Japanese side. This is not less important to us. Because there are some nuances associated with a rather complex story of Japan during the Second World War, its atonement after what happened. The Japanese are very painful about any mention of the war, about some armed conflicts.