Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Monday condemned “exceptionally cruel” violence against civilians near kyiv in an apparent reference to the killings in the city of Bucha.
“I am deeply shocked by the news of the exceptionally cruel acts of violence against civilians near kyiv,” Hayashi told reporters along with his Polish counterpart in Warsaw.
“The killing of innocent civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law and is unacceptable and I strongly condemn these acts,” he added.
“The Russian assault is a flagrant violation of international law and an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through the use of force.”
Earlier Monday, the Kremlin rejected accusations that Russian forces were responsible for killing civilians near kyiv and suggested images of the bodies were “forgeries.”
Hayashi was speaking during a several-day trip to Poland, during which he visited the EU member’s border with Ukraine and met with refugees who have fled the war-torn country.
“I was able to see for myself how difficult a situation the refugees are in,” he said.
He did not discuss recent media reports that some of the people who fled Ukraine would join him on his flight back to Japan.
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, for his part, stressed the importance of diplomacy in ending the war.
“The only way to resolve the conflict has been, is and will continue to be diplomacy and dialogue,” he told reporters.
“We regret that Russia has chosen the path of aggression and war instead of dialogue and diplomacy.”