Why Japanese firm’s tie-up with Ukrainian drone maker sparks concerns in Russia

Russia’s protest over a proposed investment by a Japanese company in a Ukrainian drone maker signals its concern that Tokyo may be supporting closer cooperation with Kyiv’s defence sector and planning to lift a long-standing ban on weapon exports, according to an international relations expert.On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko registered Moscow’s protest in a meeting with Akira Muto, the Japanese ambassador to Russia. Muto “rebutted” the protest, according to a Jiji Press report.Rudenko said the proposed investment by Terra Drone in a Ukrainian military company amounted to a “hostile act” and was damaging to Russia’s national security. He added that the Japanese government was taking an “unfriendly stance” towards Russia.In a press conference, a spokeswoman for the Russian foreign ministry said Muto was “summoned” to the ministry to receive the complaint.But Japanese government officials said the meeting between Rudenko and Muto was arranged earlier to discuss opportunities for political dialogue, economic matters, and cultural and personnel exchanges.James Brown, a professor of international relations specialising in Russian affairs at the Tokyo campus of Temple University, dismissed Moscow’s diplomatic protest over the deal.