U.S., Russian ambassadors to Japan feuding on Twitter over Ukraine invasion

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:02 JST, May 5, 2022

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin are feuding on Twitter over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The tit-for-tat argument began with Emanuel’s post dated April 1, saying, “Russian forces brazenly attack humanitarian convoys and steal food & medicine.” Galuzin countered with a post saying Emanuel’s constant compulsive lying was brazen.

On April 4, amid allegations that Russian soldiers massacred civilians in Bucha and other areas near Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, Emanuel wrote: “Any country that doesn’t morally condemn these acts of violence has their hands on Putin’s bloody knife.” In response, Galuzin said Western propaganda is fake.

When eight Russian officials including diplomats were asked to leave Japan, Emmanuel tweeted sarcastically, “Enjoy the flight home!”

“Emanuel is keen on getting the word out, and the exchanges with Galuzin are likely to continue,” a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.