Japanese Foreign Ministry urged not to condemn the Russians because of the events in Ukraine

Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. File photoTOKYO, Apr 19 Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi urged not to condemn Russian citizens in light of the situation in Ukraine «just because they are Russians.»»I would like to emphasize once again that the situation was initiated by the Russian authorities, in connection with which ordinary citizens of Russia should not be condemned just because they are Russians,» the minister noted. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine.» According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, as of March 25, the main tasks of the first stage were completed — they significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass. On April 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced the start of the next phase of the special operation.