Press Conference by the Prime Minister regarding a Summit Conference Call on the Situation in Ukraine

(Regarding a summit conference call on the situation in Ukraine)

Earlier today before dawn, I joined a conference call proposed by U.S. President Biden with the leaders of U.S. allies and partners. During the call, I conveyed to the participants that Russia's latest aggression against Ukraine undermines the very foundation of the entire international order and that it is imperative for the international community to unite together to respond in a resolute manner. As Japan is the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war and, in particular, as a prime minister from Hiroshima, a city devastated by atomic bombing, I stressed that neither the threat nor the use of nuclear weapons should be tolerated. The leaders agreed that Russia's aggression towards Ukraine is a grave violation of international law and that Russia should be severely condemned, while also recognizing the need for the international community to unify in imposing stringent sanctions and to continue to cooperate in providing assistance to the Ukrainian government and to refugees and other displaced people. Japan will continue to appropriately respond in cooperation with the G7 as well as the international community as a whole.