Russia’s new ambassador to Japan has warned Tokyo of serious consequences and retaliatory measures if Patriot missile systems manufactured under US license in Japan reach Ukraine, RIA reported on Friday.

Patriotic systemPhoto: ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia

RIA quoted the new ambassador, Mykola Nozdrev, as saying that Moscow will be watching closely to see where Japanese arms exports end up after Tokyo eased export rules late last year, according to AFP.

In particular, according to him, Russia will monitor when Patriot missile systems and missiles manufactured in Japan under an American license will be exported to the United States and then to Ukraine.

“Accordingly, we will carefully monitor that the delivered Patriot missiles do not reach Ukraine, because if this happens, there will be the most serious consequences for bilateral (Russian-Japanese) relations, including our retaliatory measures,” he said, quoted . according to RIA.