In a shocking and provocative statement, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of shameful subservience to the United States, suggesting he should ritually disembowel himself. This comes as a reaction to a meeting between Kishida and US President Joe Biden, during which they issued a joint statement condemning any potential use of nuclear weapons by Russia in Ukraine.
Medvedev, a prominent ally of President Vladimir Putin and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, claimed that the statement showed “paranoia” towards Russia and “betrayed the memory of hundreds of thousands of Japanese who were burned in the nuclear fire of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” The comment is a reference to the atomic bombs dropped on Japan by the United States to force its surrender at the end of World War II.
The Russian politician further criticized Kishida, saying that instead of demanding US repentance for the bombings, the Japanese leader had shown himself to be “just a service attendant for the Americans.” He suggested that such shame could only be washed away by committing seppuku, a form of suicide by disembowelment, at a meeting of the Japanese cabinet after Kishida’s return.
This is not the first time Medvedev has made a controversial statement. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he has warned repeatedly that Western meddling in the crisis could lead to nuclear war, and has referred to Ukrainians as “cockroaches” in language that Kyiv has deemed openly genocidal. Putin has also emphasized the risk of nuclear war, but insisted that Russia’s nuclear arsenal is a purely defensive deterrent.
Dmitry Medvedev (Via Dmitry Medvedev/Twitter)
The reaction from Japan to Medvedev’s remarks was not immediately available, as no one was available for comment at the prime minister’s official residence or the foreign ministry outside normal working hours. However, it is likely that the statement will further escalate tensions between Russia and Japan, already strained due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The incident highlights the growing rift between Russia and its Western allies, and the increasing rhetoric on both sides. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the threat of nuclear war remains a looming possibility, and states like Japan are caught in the middle. The reaction to Medvedev’s statement will likely be closely watched, and may be a key indicator of the direction that international relations will take in the coming months.
Russia’s actions in Ukraine have sparked widespread international condemnation, and the country has been isolating itself from the international community. The use of nuclear weapons would be a catastrophic escalation, and the international community must remain vigilant in its efforts to avoid such an outcome. For now, the war of words between Russia and its Western allies continues to escalate, with no clear end in sight.
