Japan watching Ukraine situation with grave concern -govt spokesperson

FILE PHOTOT: Japan
FILE PHOTOT: Japan's new Chief of Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu announces new cabinet members at a news conference in Tokyo, Japan October 4, 2021. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan is still watching the Ukraine situation with grave concern despite a Russian announcement of a partial pullback of armed forces, Japan's top government spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"(U.S.) President (Joe) Biden has said the possibility of an invasion of Russian forces into Ukraine clearly remains," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a regular news conference.

"The Japanese government sees that the situation remains unpredictable, and we will keep a close eye on the situation with high alert and grave concern."

Russia has positioned more than 100,000 troops near the Ukrainian border, stoking fears of war. Moscow denies planning to invade.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)

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