Kishida Announces Additional Sanctions On Russia
Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio announced new sanctions on Russia on Friday. It comes amid growing calls for Moscow to be held responsible for the mass killing of civilians in Ukraine.
Kishida said, "Russian troops have killed civilians and attacked nuclear facilities, gravely violating international humanitarian law. It is an act of war crime that can never be tolerated. Such inhumane acts need to be held accountable."
He said Japan will support independent investigations by the International Criminal Court and the UN.
Japan will ban the import of Russian coal and some other products, including machinery and timber.
It will also ban new investments in Russia and freeze the assets of the country's largest financial institution, Sberbank, and it's fourth largest bank.
Japan will also freeze the assets of an additional nearly 400 individuals and about 20 organizations.
Kishida noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to Japan's Diet last month and called for continued pressure on Russia to end the violence.
He said, "Japan with other G7 countries, will not tolerate Russia's outrage, and Japan stands with Ukraine. We need to make sure we show our attitude through support from Japan."