US Presses Ukraine on Refinery Strikes as Trump Calls for a New President

Why This Topic Landed in Japan

The war in Ukraine and the shape of US involvement are a steady concern in Japan, so two developments on the same day drew heavy attention. One was a report that Washington warned Ukraine it would cut off intelligence-sharing unless Kyiv stopped striking Russian refineries. The other was Trump's public call for Ukraine to get "a new president it can make a deal with," blaming Ukraine's refinery strikes for higher diesel prices. Ukraine's position was conditional — it would stop hitting refineries if Russia stopped hitting Ukrainian energy sites — so most commenters framed the warning as a backer tying the hands of the side being invaded. The timing fed the reaction: Trump had said he would end the war quickly once in office, and the remarks came just after he was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize. Many also folded in frustration with Japan's own government for continuing large overseas aid while the domestic economy struggles.

Key Reaction Themes

• US self-interest — The largest share read Washington as protecting its own oil prices and midterm politics by restraining the side under attack, with many saying the US "only looks like it's helping Russia."
• Cynicism about a world ruled by resources and nukes — A recurring note that Russia shows how the countries with resources and nuclear weapons are the strong ones.
• Turning it back on Trump — Comments that his blame-shifting ignores both his promise to end the war fast and his own role in rising prices.
• A pull back to Japan — Smaller but frequent calls for Japan to build independent defense and not rely on a US that "could drop you at any time."
• A realist minority — A few agreed Ukraine had missed earlier chances to reach a ceasefire.

What Japanese Netizens Are Saying

Washington's warning over strikes on Russian refineries

A report that the US would cut off intelligence-sharing unless Ukraine stopped hitting Russian refineries.

Sources: 2ch

Comments:

• "Just stop the war already."
• "America really is a selfish country."
• "Looking at Russia, you really see that the countries with resources and nukes are the strong ones."
• "Trump has no pride."
• "Oil prices are set to climb no matter what — it'll backfire on him in the midterms."
• "'Don't attack it because I'm the one buying it'? The lack of principle is impressive."
• "So much for 'I'll end the war in two weeks once I'm president.' Two years on it's not over — there are even more wars."
• "He can only think about his own immediate gain. It's terrifying that someone like this holds the world's strongest military."
• "'Striking refineries is a rules violation' — war isn't a game or a sport, you know."
• "It only looks like Trump is helping Russia. If Ukraine can just hold out until the midterms, maybe it'll be okay."
• "Japan had better get its own military power too, or America will toss us aside just as easily."
• "No — it shouldn't be 'don't attack the refineries,' it should be 'stop the war.' Quit hiding the fact that you're making money off the military."
• "Poor Ukraine. In the end you can't defy your sponsor's wishes. If the sponsor goes mad, it's over."
• "If Japan keeps relying entirely on the US, there's no telling when the ladder gets pulled out from under us."
• "When Russia hits Ukraine's refineries, America says nothing. Is the US on Russia's side?"

Trump calls for Ukraine to have "a new president"

Trump publicly urged Ukraine to get a new president "it can make a deal with," pressing for Zelensky's replacement.

Sources: Sankei, Yomiuri, 2ch

Comments:

• "America needs a new president too, doesn't it."
• "A rotting Japan has no room to be worrying about other countries."
• "You should just stick to stopping nuclear weapons — don't get greedy over oil interests."
• "It's true there were a few chances to reach a ceasefire from a position of advantage, though."
• "Sure, prices rose because of the war with Russia, but this year's price hikes are definitely your fault."
• "Say it to Russia and to China's Pooh-san too." [Translator's note: "Pooh-san" is an online nickname for China's Xi Jinping.]
• "The head of an evil axis state that throws the world into chaos."
• "Trump was still fine during his first term, but this time he's just been a nuisance stirring up the whole world."
• "The Russia-Ukraine war is a factor, sure, but attacking Iran is the biggest cause."
• "Part of him lashing out because he didn't get the Nobel Prize."
• "I wonder how the decent Americans are doing right now."
• "Weren't you going to end the Ukraine war in three days once you became president? lol What a fraud www"
• "That's completely Russia's talking point."
• "Honestly it's not completely off the mark — Zelensky started hitting Russia's oil infrastructure and trade, so global oil supply tightened and diesel prices rose. 'The Iran war has a bigger impact' is also true, but Trump would never admit his own mistakes; for him it's always someone else's fault."