Japan has agreed to provide 100 military vehicles to Ukraine as tensions continue to rise between Ukraine and Russia. The announcement comes as the United States is reportedly seeking explosives and TNT in Japan to be used in artillery shells for Ukraine. Sources say the US wants to provide Ukraine with effective weapons that can help in its fight against Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

The move has raised concerns among some officials in Japan, who fear that cooperation with the US on such matters could lead to further escalation in tensions with Russia. However, Japanese officials have emphasized that the military vehicles being provided to Ukraine are not weapons and will be used purely for transportation.

The situation in Ukraine has been tense for years, with ongoing conflict between the Ukrainian military and Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region. The conflict has killed over 13,000 people since 2014. The US and other Western countries have provided Ukraine with military aid, while Russia has been accused of supporting the separatists with weapons and troops.

While Japan has largely remained neutral in the conflict, it has been providing humanitarian and development assistance to Ukraine. This new move to provide military vehicles marks a significant escalation in Japan’s involvement in the conflict. It remains to be seen how Russia will respond to this development and whether it will further escalate tensions in the region.