Japan criticizes Russian sanctions for 1st time

ISTANBUL

Japan criticized sanctions imposed by Moscow against Tokyo for the first time on Tuesday.

“It is completely unacceptable to shift the responsibility to Japan,” Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at a news conference. “All of our measures are due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine,”

Iwaya’s remarks came after Russia banned several Japanese officials and business leaders on Monday from entering the country, including Iwaya.

The sanctions were in response to Tokyo’s continued sanctions on Moscow for the Ukraine war, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Expressing “regret” for the sanctions imposed by Russia, Iwaya said relations between Russia and Japan are “currently in a difficult situation.”

He noted the “issues” between the two nations “need to be resolved, particularly between diplomatic authorities,” and he “intends to continue to communicate with the Russian side.”

“Japan intends to respond in close cooperation with the international community, including the G7, from the perspective of what is effective in achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,” he added.

ISTANBUL

Japan criticized sanctions imposed by Moscow against Tokyo for the first time on Tuesday.

Iwaya’s remarks came after Russia banned several Japanese officials and business leaders on Monday from entering the country, including Iwaya.

The sanctions were in response to Tokyo’s continued sanctions on Moscow for the Ukraine war, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Expressing “regret” for the sanctions imposed by Russia, Iwaya said relations between Russia and Japan are “currently in a difficult situation.”

He noted the “issues” between the two nations “need to be resolved, particularly between diplomatic authorities,” and he “intends to continue to communicate with the Russian side.”