However, the Japanese government did not discuss the introduction of new restrictive measures TOKYO, August 23.
/tass/. The Japanese government intends to maintain sanctions pressure on Russia in connection with its special military operation in Ukraine. This was stated by the Secretary General of the Cabinet of Ministers following a meeting on the situation in Ukraine, headed by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
"At the meeting, the Prime Minister instructed, in close cooperation with the G7 countries, to continue the diplomatic response to [the situation in Ukraine], including [maintaining] sanctions," he said, noting that the continuation of assistance to Ukraine was also discussed. At the same time, according to Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, new sanctions measures were not discussed.
In addition, Matsuno noted, Kishida instructed to take measures for the stable supply of Japan with energy resources against the background of global price growth. At the same time, according to him, it was instructed to work out issues of strengthening Japan's defense capability.
According to the Secretary General of the Japanese Cabinet, in connection with the Russian operation in Ukraine, Japan is concerned, as he claimed, "the possibility of using nuclear weapons." Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Tokyo Mikhail Galuzin called such statements speculation, noting that actions to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine have nothing to do with scenarios that allow the use of nuclear weapons.
In turn, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, who also took part in the meeting, said that the Cabinet of Ministers was instructed to ensure the protection of Japanese citizens in Ukraine.
Kishida took part in the meeting remotely. On August 21, he tested positive for coronavirus. He will remain at his official residence until at least August 31.
The Japanese authorities have previously approved several sets of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation due to the situation around Ukraine. A total of more than 700 people from Russia, Belarus, Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as more than 200 Russian and Belarusian companies and organizations have fallen under individual sanctions. In addition, Japan has frozen the assets of Otkritie Bank, Novikombank, Sovcombank, VTB, Bank Rossiya, Promsvyazbank, VEB.The Russian Federation, Sberbank and Alfa-Bank, as well as about 40 Russian organizations and companies.
The list of goods and technologies prohibited for export included more than 400 items, including semiconductors, marine and aviation security equipment, telecommunications equipment, communications equipment, military products, including weapons, software, oil refining equipment, cargo equipment, dump trucks, bulldozers, railway locomotives, processing machines and other electrical equipment, used in industry. In addition, a ban has been imposed on the supply of luxury goods to Russia, including cars worth more than 6 million yen (about $ 49 thousand), as well as a ban on the import of gold from the Russian Federation.
