Lavrov was outraged that the Japanese ambassador failed to appear when summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry
Akira Muto, Japan’s ambassador to Moscow, did not appear at the Russian Foreign Ministry after being summoned in connection with Tokyo’s protest over Vladimir Putin’s trip to the Kuril Islands. This was stated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
According to him, the Japanese side was unable to clearly explain why the ambassador did not appear. Embassy officials stated that Muto would be unable to attend on either August 14 or August 17, citing that he was allegedly not in Moscow or was feeling unwell.
Lavrov stated that the Russian Foreign Ministry still plans to discuss with the ambassador the Japanese government’s reaction to Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands. They also intend to remind the diplomat of the need to comply with Russian laws and diplomatic procedures.
This is being reported by Russian propaganda media.
The Kremlin is increasingly rejecting negotiations with Ukraine.
Separately, analysts point to the approaching elections in Russia. That is why a hardline stance toward Ukraine may be necessary for the Kremlin not only to wage war but also to mobilize domestic support ahead of the vote. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Vladimir Putin declared that Russia and North Korea are ready to continue acting together on the international stage. In his message to Kim Jong-un, he cited their shared goal of building a “more just and truly democratic” world order.
