Japan, other G-7 leaders adopt new Russian sanctions

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other G7 leaders adopted new sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine at an online G7 summit on Friday, marking the one-year anniversary of the NATO-backed war. 

Leaders renewed commitments to "intensifying our diplomatic, financial and military support for Ukraine, to increasing the costs to Russia and those supporting its war effort,” according to Kishida. 

The G7 countries affirmed their commitment to face Russia and prevent it from obtaining military equipment and technology while calling on countries to stop providing it with military support. 

As this year’s G7 president, Kishida announced that Japan would impose additional sanctions on Russia, including freezing the assets of around 120 individuals and organizations and banning the export of drones and other materials that can be used for military purposes.

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“In order to absolutely not allow one-sided changes to the status quo, we must firmly carry out support for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia to regain peace and international order based on the rule of law," Kishida argued at a news conference before hosting a teleconference with other G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

At the summit, Kishida discussed the war's latest developments and stressed the G7's solidarity with Ukraine. He noted growing concern around China's alleged potential transfer of lethal weapons to Russia and said that Japan would cooperate with the G7 and other countries to send a “clear message” to third countries to stop supplying weapons to Russia.

The Prime Minister's statements come after the UK and Washington adopted new sanctions against Russia on Friday.

US, UK new batch of sanctions

On Friday, the White House announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russia on the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the NATO-orchestrated war in Ukraine. 

"Today, on the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the United States is announcing a series of additional actions to continue providing Ukraine with the support it needs and holding Russia accountable for its war of aggression," the White House said in a statement.

The statement added that the Department of Commerce will take a number of export control measures, including adding nearly 90 Russian and foreign companies—including some in China—to the Entity List for engaging in backfilling and sanction evasion activities in support of Russia's defense industry.

In coordination with its G7 allies and partners, the US will also enact sanctions against over 200 individuals and entities, including both Russian and third-country actors allegedly supporting Russia throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

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On the other hand, the United Kingdom expanded the list of sanctions against Russia, adding 92 more individuals and entities.

"UK sanctions on Russia top 1,500 as FCDO the [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office] targets 92 individuals and entities, including those connected to Rosatom," the government said in a statement on Friday.

The list now includes, among others, senior executives at Russian state-owned nuclear power company Rosatom and 20 executives of energy giant Gazprom and flagship carrier Aeroflot, as well as the CEO of Nord Stream 2 Mattias Warnig.

London also added the head of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Maksut Shadayev, to the sanctions list for allegedly benefiting from the Russian government. Among those targeted is Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.