MOSCOW, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia on Wednesday warned that Japan's possible participation in a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) arms procurement mechanism for Ukraine would further strain bilateral relations and that military equipment funded by Japan would become legitimate targets for Russian forces.
Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at a regular briefing that Moscow had received reports about Japan's intention to join a NATO mechanism for purchasing military equipment for Ukraine.
"These steps will further complicate Russia-Japan relations, which, through Tokyo's actions, have already been in a state of deep stagnation," she said.
Zakharova added that military equipment supplied to Ukraine with Japanese funds would become legitimate targets for Russian forces.
In April last year, former Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said after meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Japan saw great potential in developing defense industry cooperation with the alliance.
Earlier this month, Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported that Japan would soon announce its participation in a NATO assistance program aimed at purchasing weapons and equipment from the United States and supplying them to Ukraine. ■
