isabelle comments

FosToday 11:21 am JST

since the start of the conflict

Since the start of Putin's war of conquest and vanity.

Putin, not the US, is the source of the aggression.

FosToday 09:42 am JST

Another reference how the legacy media sponsored by the US industrial military complex is trying to manipulate the narrative about the war it keeps waging all over the world for their own economic interests.

The war was started by Putin, and Putin alone.

As we all know the United States played a key role in generating and perpetuating this terrible conflict in Ukraine

As we all know, that is the Kremlin line that you constantly copy and paste.

The war was started by Putin, and Putin alone.

Russia has single-handedly stopped American aggression.

There is no American aggression.

The war was started by Putin, and Putin alone.

Mr KiplingToday 08:51 am JST

The Kursk "offensive" was and still is the most pointless waste of Ukrainian lives and hardware in this war.

Putin's war of conquest and vanity is the most pointless waste of Ukrainian and Russian lives of our times.

The non-Japanese posters on JT appear to be far more misogynistic than the Japanese men I work with.

quercetumToday 06:28 pm JST

The job of women in Japan is to look pretty and pleasant, nod supportively to statements made by their bosses (male) and to tilt their head and say they’re not sure when they disagree.

Showa called, and wants its stereotypes back.

Your outdated scene is not my "job," and it's not the job of countless other women.

DanteKHToday 06:44 pm JST

Every Japanese women and girl I know dreams on finding a reach person and become a housewife.

I think you mean "rich" here. If so, that is certainly not my experience.

Like the above poster, we must move in very different circles.

The women actually do not want long hours and responsibility roles, they prefer to stay home and have the husband as an ATM.

"The women?" What, all women here?

Japan definitely has a way to go on this, but I think it's improved an enormous amount during my time here.

In my company, parents (and non-parents) can flexibly adjust their hours to look after children, and work remotely whenever needed. There are a number of female senior managers, including directors, who have balanced work and childcare for many years.

I realize this may not be "the norm" for every company but I do think Japan is becoming much more aware of the issues now, and of the vital (and thus far unsung) role that parenting plays in building a decent society. It's taken until the birthrate has plummeted, and the oyaji have steadily retired, to get here, but it is at least now being realized.

Government policy has a huge role in this too, as even if some oyaji are still stuck in Showa, they are afraid of breaking regulations and losing their own jobs, so they will comply until the generation that is naturally aware takes over.

In short, Japan has a way to go, but is moving in the right direction.

JJEToday 10:40 am JST

Two great powers had to have a meeting to re-establish something called diplomacy.

There was one great power in the meeting -- the US. Where was the other one?

FosToday 10:52 am JST

We all know that the ground for this conflict was prepared by US securocrats in the 1990s

"We all know" that, do we? Ridiculous, as usual.

Ukraine suffered terrible losses and gained nothing from challenging Putin to a fight.

Ukraine did not "challenge Putin to a fight." The war was started by Putin, and Putin alone.

We will continue to remind you of this fact.

What is clear from the beginning is that Russia could not have the US nuclear missiles bases in Ukraine

Ukraine is a sovereign country. Russia does not get to decide its policy.

Even if Russia does not like Ukraine's policies, nothing gives it the right to invade.

quercetumToday 07:39 am JST

The U.S. and Russia can settle it by themselves as it is between the US and Russia themselves.

Demonstrably false. The war was started, unquestionably, by Putin and Putin and alone.

If Trump stops helping the Ukrainians protect their invaded homeland (as is legal under international law), they will continue to fight with European help only. It will be harder, but they will continue.

Russia, however, can settle it immediately, by withdrawing its invading hordes.

HopeSpringsEternalToday 08:31 am JST

most Voters want Peace

Most voters want Putin to remove his invading hordes of murderers, thieves, rapists, and child abductors; pay his reparations; and submit to his war crimes trial.

kurisupisuToday 08:52 am JST

Ukraine cannot function militarily without the US.

Yes, it can. Not as well, but it can function.

It is happening right now.

JJEToday 07:27 am JST

The narrative is slipping

No, your ludicrous Russian narrative never even got on its feet in the first place.

JJEToday 07:46 am JST

The origins of this conflict are very complex. A simplistic narrative explains nothing.

The origins of this unilateral, unprovoked war of conquest are that Putin thinks Ukraine isn't a country, and believed he could make it part of Russia with relative ease. So, he invaded.

He was wrong on both counts.

JJEToday 09:07 am JST

Obvious next step would be fair elections

Yes, in Russia.

Without the opposition carelessly falling out of windows, wandering into stray bullets, or mistaking the polonium for the sugar.

TamaramaToday 07:04 am JST

Unfortunately, war has ensued in the meantime

Putin started a war in the meantime.

Zelensky is in the worst position possible, I really feel for the guy and Ukrainian people

Somehow, I doubt your stated concern is genuine.

Think about it logically. There's no way a direct neighbor of Russia, with a 2300 km border with them, in full knowledge of the history of Russia/Ukraine relations and involvement (1000s of years), would dare even consider a NATO membership without considerable encouragement and support from a very powerful party.

That is not logic; that is pure conjecture. (And conjecture that aligns very well with the Kremlin line, I might add.)

Direct Russian neighbors like Finland and the Baltics have joined NATO, and their accession is subject to their own democratic process. Their own people want to join, precisely to guard against Russian aggression. The US does not control these countries, no matter what Russia's propaganda machine may assert.

And Ukraine has been trying to join NATO for around 20 years without success. Doesn't sound like much like US "support and encouragement" to me.

And that support and encouragement has come from one primary source - the US.

Per the above, it's the country's people that want to join. You can see this in many opinion polls... though you'll probably say they were manipulated by the US.

The fact that you don't like that truth, doesn't make it go away.

The fact that you're trying to pass off conjecture as the truth doesn't make it the truth.

Well done, Japan. Again at the forefront of helping the developing world.

Japan is the most reliable, trustworthy creditor out there, and its aid is high-quality, targeted to the recipient country, and fully transparent.

JICA is the model that other countries should follow.

HopeSpringsEternalToday 09:50 am JST

Putin has had tremendous success due to Ukraine.

Oh, yes: over three years of devastating war, a battered economy, the loss of hundreds of thousands of fighting men to injury/death, population exodus and brain drain, a sunken Black Sea fleet, Chinese client state status, North Korean soldiers, generations of enmity from Europe and the wider world, and an expanded NATO that includes Arctic warfare experts in Sweden and Finland just as Russia tries to expand into the Arctic.

A political masterstroke by Putin.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said he was considering the action “based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'pounding' Ukraine on the battlefield right now.”

Ukraine would be "absolutely pounding" the Russian invaders if you supported it with the weaponry and intelligence it needs, instead of withholding this to appease the aggressor and accused war criminal, Putin.

I realize you're not the brightest, Donald, but surely even you could understand that.

kohakuebisuToday 06:57 pm JST

This is clearly the Asian century. Japan increasingly does not need the US and should turn to its neighbours.

Japan's security problems are caused by its neighbors: China, North Korea, and Russia. They are precisely why the bases are needed. Japan gets on well with just about the whole of the rest of the world apart from these belligerent menaces.

If you mean neighbors other than the above three, then fine.

YubaruToday 06:44 pm JST

No it can not. The definition of "Collective Self Defense" is very limited in scope.

It's limited in scope, but what I said is absolutely correct. Your own link even confirms it:

...

Article 2 of the Armed Attack and Existential Crisis Situations Act, modified in 2015, defines the standard as: “an armed attack against a foreign state that is in a close relationship with Japan occurs, and, as a result, threatens Japan’s survival and poses a clear danger to overturn fundamentally its nationals’ right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” The foreign state is expected to be “a country which shares a common interest in responding to an armed attack from outside as a common danger and expresses intention to do so jointly with Japan.”

...

Its examples include armed attack against U.S. vessels transporting Japanese nationals; armed attack against U.S. warships conducting ballistic missile surveillance in the vicinity of Japan; or armed attack against Guam, where the U.S. military bases critical for Japan’s security in East Asia are located.

YubaruToday 05:20 pm JST

If the US was attacked, in international waters, near Japan, the JSDF could only stand by and watch.

That depends on the exact circumstances. It's entirely possible that Japan could engage in Collective Self-Defense.

If any attack -- whether on Japan or the US -- "threatens Japan's survival and poses a clear danger to people," the SDF can engage in offensive operations.

This is one major reason Abe wanted to change the constitution.

Although he failed to change the constitution, Collective Self-Defense did become permitted during his term (and it still is).

Mr KiplingToday 05:15 pm JST

US troops are not stationed in Japan to protect Japan. They are forward deployed troops to attack China, North Korea or Russia if war broke out with between the US and any of those countries.

US troops are here both to protect Japan, and to deter/respond to China, North Korea and Russia. They're also here for other reasons, some of which I mention above.

The US has no intention of "attacking" China/North Korea/Russia. However, it will respond if any of them start trouble (at least it would have until Trump came along).

"We have a great relationship with Japan. But we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them, but they don't have to protect us," Trump said Thursday.

Here we go. It's Japan's turn is it, Donald?

The US was well aware of Japan's Article 19 when it entered the agreement, but it knew that the alliance greatly benefits the US too, as it provides unparalleled forward basing and readiness (amongst other benefits). If China starts trouble, without bases in the area the US would have to ship/fly everything across the Pacific, and this "tyranny of distance" would be disastrous. Even without such a contingency, having bases in the region enables freedom of navigation operations, training, intelligence, and many other vital things.

All presidents apart from Trump have understood this. (However, if Trump is planning a heel turn with Xi, as he has with Putin, I can see that he wouldn't care.)

"And by the way, they make a fortune with us economically,"

Is he talking about the bases here? It's difficult to tell with his insane rambling (sorry, "weave"). If so, Japan contributes more than its fair share.

To put it in Trump's parlance, the US gets a very good "deal," though I don't expect him to understand this.

"I actually ask, who makes these deals?"

Much smarter and better-qualified people than you, Donald. People who actually understand geopolitical and military matters.

Mr KiplingToday 02:23 pm JST

The Russian S-500 will eat it for lunch and the S-550 in development will do so easier.

Interesting that you're so certain of the capabilities of aircraft that haven't been built yet, and of Russia's battered industrial base, that you can predict the future.

Clearly a very considered, objective opinion there.

quercetumToday 12:03 pm JST

Europeans need to learn to get along in peace. You started WWI and WWII.

"Europeans?"

Technically accurate, but a ludicrous generalization: putting countries like Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy alongside the UK, France, Poland, Czechoslovakia, etc.

Apparently there was not enough destruction to learn this lesson.

No, Putin clearly didn't learn it.

OkinawaRiderToday 12:12 pm JST

POTUS will deliver ceasefire talks and peace way before that. Just as he promised to American voters.

He will deliver nothing if all he can offer is appeasement of Putin. Ukraine will keep fighting with European help, as the alternative -- living under the Russian yoke -- is much worse. As I say above, they have direct memory of this.

There's still time for Trump to realize the error of his ways, and pressure the aggressor not the victim, but I have no idea if he will.

OkinawaRiderToday 12:33 pm JST

What Ukraine and the world needs is for this war to end.

Yes, by expelling the invading Russian hordes from Ukraine's sovereign territory, as I said.

Certainly not by appeasement of the aggressor, Putin.

JJEToday 07:06 am JST

More pointless meetings and grandstanding that never amount to anything.

You mean, apart from the extra 800 billion euros that can now go toward killing your invading Russian murderers, thieves, rapists, and child abductors?

Sounds like a very big deal to me, and a very welcome one at that.

Well done, EU. Now, let's get Ukraine whatever it needs to expel the invading Russian hordes from its sovereign territory.

In addition to the clear injustice of Putin's invasion, millions in Europe still have direct memory of living under Soviet brutality, and they know how disastrous a return of those times would be. They know that the EU has created a more prosperous, just world than the brutal autocracy that preceded it, and that this is worth fighting for, whether on Ukrainian soil or their own.

It's good that we have EU leaders from countries like Poland (Tusk) and Estonia (Kallas) who have this direct memory, and fully understand the magnitude and implications of Putin's war of conquest.

JJEToday 08:18 am JST

Steve Witkoff [...] taken an outsized role in foreign policy and has real influence, clear he has Trump's ear.

And, just like Trump, he is a real estate dealer that has absolutely no clue about geopolitics.

Mr KiplingToday 08:45 am JST

Ukraine did not "bring it on itself". Anti Russia and the expansion of NATO had been the goal of US administrations from BOTH parties until Trump.

NATO expands via countries applying to join it, not due to "the goal of US administrations." You are parroting the standard Kremlin lie.

And why do countries join NATO? Russian aggression. Absent this, there would be no incentive to join, with all the commitments that it involves. Countries would focus on their economies instead.

Furthermore, Ukraine has been trying to join NATO for around 20 years (along with other countries like Georgia), but has not been allowed to. This reality is the opposite of your assertion.

quercetumToday 08:49 am JST

Be like China and Japan and mind your own business.

Would this be the China that has been funding and supplying the Russian war machine, and providing diplomatic cover, for the past three years?

Doesn't sound like "minding your own business" to me.

FosToday 11:04 am JST

As we all know the main responsible for this full scale disaster is the big US industrial military complex

You spelled "Vladimir Putin" wrong.

More horrific scenes from the Trump administration.

I could understand the betrayal of Ukraine and the free world if there were something in it for Trump personally -- as that's essentially what drives him -- but there's nothing here for him.

He is completely under Putin's spell, like a lovesick teenager.

TokyoLivingToday 07:44 am JST

A pathetic excuse to promote warmongering

A sensible way to prevent warmongering.

Increased defense cooperation with other partners is key for Japan. Even before Trump, the US could not manufacture all the equipment needed to meet its commitments around the world, and now that the US will be completely unreliable for the next four years (and may have changed for good: we don't know yet), Japan must ramp up cooperation with others.

In fact, Japan has been wisely doing this since at least the first Trump administration, working more with Australia, India, the Philippines, etc. The Japanese government gets a lot of hate on JT (some of it certainly deserved), but it is very savvy in the international arena, and much of its work flies -- correctly -- under the radar.

The two also agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation as "each other's closest partners in Asia and Europe"

I doubt Japan should look to the UK as its closest European partner under the current Labour government, given that it has gone soft on China. In opposition, Labour vowed to class the Xinjiang atrocities as a genocide but backed down, despite being led by a former human rights lawyer in Keir Starmer:

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-labour-drops-plan-accuse-china-genocide-over-uyghur-treatment

And canceled a trip by Tsai Ing-wen to avoid offending China:

https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5951141

These are not the actions of a strong partner for Asia.

I think Kishida is partly right here.

I'd agree on the multilateralism point, but not necessarily the UN as it has many problems, such as security council permanent members invading their neighbors (Russia); illegally occupying other countries' territory/international waters, committing genocide, and inflicting untold brutality on its own citizens (China); and supporting dictators and war mongers, and threatening to steal friendly nations' territory and displace their populations (US).

I think that "what is shaking the world" at the moment is that many people think the above is OK, when it's clearly not. You shouldn't need multilateralism, or international organizations to tell you that.

Raw BeerToday 12:36 pm JST

Good! Hopefully Ukraine will now embrace democracy and hold elections.

Ukraine is a democracy. Elections are currently suspended due to martial law, per the Ukrainian constitution, just like they were in the UK during WWII.

Compare this to Russia's "democracy," where Putin's political opponents have a nasty habit of falling out of windows, walking carelessly into stray bullets, and mistaking the polonium for the sugar.

Roger GusainToday 01:11 pm JST

Zelensky is the biggest threat to world peace right now.

For some odd reason, you leave out an accused war criminal that has unilaterally started the largest war in Europe since WWII: Putin.

Don't worry, though - we will continue to remind you.

I'm sure they're very disappointed they won't get the chance to stay at the soon-to-be-opened "Trump Plaza Red Square."

China again having trouble understanding that it's international law that applies in the real world, not Xi Jinping Thought.

mrtinjpToday 10:52 am JST

No first Zelenskyy.. than Putin... remember it was Ukraine which walked out of Minsk A.

Remember it was Putin that annexed Crimea, and invaded Ukraine.

Ukraine is innocent; Putin is guilty. No amount of pro-Kremlin propaganda will change that fact.

mrtinjpToday 10:59 am JST

Zekenskyy and especially his supporters literally want a conflict escalation leading to potential ww3

No, they literally do not.

They want what any reasonable person wants: Putin to withdraw his invading hordes of murderers, thieves, rapists, and child abductors; pay his reparations; and submit to his war crimes trial at The Hague.

Though, given the nature of Putin's crimes, I'd suggest that Nuremberg would be a more fitting venue for his trial.