Russian President Vladimir Putin [Getty Images]
Russian President Vladimir Putin [Getty Images]

Russian President Vladimir Putin said NATO's expansion into the Asia-Pacific region poses a growing threat to Russia, while also taking aim at Japan over the Ukraine war, anti-Russia sanctions and the Kuril Islands dispute.

Speaking Wednesday in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Russia's Far East, Putin told reporters he was witnessing a rise in the potential for conflict in the region, according to TASS. "NATO is penetrating this area and new military-political blocs are being formed," he said.

"New weapons systems are being deployed here and plans are being drawn up for additional deployments, which poses a threat to our country," Putin said. He did not specify which NATO weapons systems he was referring to.

Putin also directed sharp criticism at Japan, a NATO Indo-Pacific partner. He said Japan had imposed one-sided sanctions on Russia without properly understanding the root causes of the situation in Ukraine.

He took particular issue with a defense white paper released earlier this month by the cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which highlighted growing military ties among Russia, North Korea and China and raised the possibility of a Ukraine-like conflict erupting in East Asia.

"We do not threaten Japan," Putin said. "We make no territorial claims against Japan."

He shrugged off the territorial dispute over the four Kuril Islands — administered by Russia and referred to by Japan as the "Northern Territories" — saying it was "a reality that emerged after World War II and is enshrined in international documents."

Putin invoked former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying Russia had built constructive ties with multiple Japanese leaders, including the "tragically deceased" former prime minister. "Former Prime Minister Abe made great efforts to bring the two countries closer together and align their positions," he said.

"The change in the two countries' positions that has occurred now was not provoked by our actions," Putin added. The remark was seen as a renewed expression of frustration with the Takaichi cabinet's policy toward Russia.

Putin also raised the prospect of rising tensions in the Arctic, saying pressure was mounting over use of the Northern Sea Route. He noted that countries wishing to cooperate with Russia — particularly friendly nations such as China and India — were discussing such issues with Moscow.

Putin pushed back strongly against recent moves by European countries to seize vessels suspected of belonging to Russia's so-called "shadow fleet." He said some countries were attempting to restrict the peaceful navigation of Russian ships in violation of international maritime law. "This is outright piracy and robbery," he said.

Putin warned that if some EU member states carried out their decisions to seize Russian vessels and sell the confiscated assets, "we will have no choice but to take corresponding measures."

He added that such countermeasures would be taken "wherever we deem necessary and appropriate — including within the operational responsibility zone of the Pacific Fleet."

Viktor Liina, commander of Russia's Pacific Fleet, who briefed Putin that day, said his forces were capable of detaining vessels belonging to the covert fleets of hostile states. "We are ready to respond to any challenge," Liina said.


quq@heraldcorp.com