Putin Ally Urges Japanese PM to Disembowel Himself After Biden Meeting

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to disband after he warned Moscow against using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

Kishida met Friday with President Joe Biden, who reiterated his administration’s support for Japan’s defense efforts, weeks after Tokyo announced its largest military buildup since World War II amid concerns about Chinese military actions. The meeting was seen as a strengthening of the US-Japan alliance.

After the meeting, Biden and Kishida issued a joint statement in which they touched on efforts to see the “denuclearization” of the Korean peninsula. They also spoke out against the potential of nuclear weapons being used in the war in Ukraine.

“We state unequivocally that any use of a nuclear weapon by Russia in Ukraine would be an act of hostility against humanity and unjustifiable in any way. And we will continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s despicable attacks on critical infrastructure,” statement. read.

A split image showing former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Medvedev on Saturday suggested that Kishida commit “seppuku”, a form of ritual suicide, as he joined President Joe Biden in condemning Russia’s potential to use nuclear weapons. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images; SAMUEL CORUM/AFP via Getty Images

Their message was met with a poor reception by Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.

Once seen as a fairly moderate voice in Russian politics, Medvedev has become a vocal champion of the widely condemned invasion of Ukraine and has made some controversial comments since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the “special military operation” last February.

In a lengthy Telegram post, Medvedev, a close Putin ally, criticized Kishida for the statement, writing that he “betrayed the memory of the hundreds of thousands of Japanese who burned in the nuclear fires of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” In August 1945, the United States dropped atomic bombs on these two Japanese cities, killing up to 200,000 civilians in an attempt to end World War II.

“He should remind the American president about this and ask for repentance, even if he was not brought by the American leadership for this act of war. But no, Kysida is only a service staff for the Americans. And the servants cannot have courage,” he said. added.

Medvedev also suggested that Kishida should commit “seppuku”, a form of ritual suicide, over his comments.

We have to feel sorry for the Japanese,” he wrote. “After all, such shame can only be washed away after they commit seppuku right at their cabinet meeting. Although this generation of Japanese vassals’ concept of honor is not natural.”

Russia has not used nuclear weapons in Ukraine, but concerns have grown that Putin could use them if he faces defeat. In the fall, the Russian leader stepped up his rhetoric about nuclear weapons, and some officials and state media figures have mocked the West for the threat.

China, Russia build relationship as Japan and US alliance strengthens

Japan, like many other countries, has criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which continues to fail despite the sheer size of Putin’s military. Newsweek previously reported that before the invasion, Russia had reportedly considered military action against Japan.

As the US and Japan strengthen their relationship, Russia and China have also strengthened their ties in recent months as Putin aims to increase his influence in the Pacific region.

China has become perhaps the most powerful country to support the invasion of Ukraine, with Russia supporting China in its regional conflicts, including the Taiwan independence debate.

Newsweek reached out to the Japanese government for comment.