Japan Rules out Sending Troops to Ukraine After Ceasefire

Japan has confirmed it will not deploy its Self-Defense Forces to Ukraine even after a ceasefire is reached, distancing itself from commitments made by some members of the Coalition of the Willing.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tokyo is not considering joining the group of 26 nations that signaled readiness to send troops once hostilities subside.

His comments came after reports that several European leaders had discussed the possibility at a coalition meeting in Paris on 4 August, attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that 26 countries expressed willingness to contribute forces under a ceasefire or peace agreement to prevent Russia from using their presence as a pretext for escalation. However, Macron declined to specify which nations had committed or how many troops might be deployed.

The meeting drew 35 leaders in total, though some countries have yet to declare a position.

Russia has strongly opposed any plans involving NATO troop deployment in Ukraine. On 18 August, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned that such actions could trigger uncontrolled escalation of the conflict.