Russia announces “proportionate countermeasures” against Japan’s latest moves
Russia on Monday announced that it will take “proportionate countermeasures” against Japan’s latest unfriendly moves.
On October 2, Tokyo announced its 27th package of measures against Russia, affecting 33 Russian legal entities and nine individuals, as well as a number of companies abroad.
The sanctions also targeted 35 vessels linked to the so-called Russian “shadow fleet,” a network used to transport crude oil outside Western sanctions.
According to the Japanese announcement, the provision of services including repairs, insurance and financing to the vessels has been banned. Earlier on Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called Japan’s latest sanctions package “illegitimate.”
She said the Japanese government continues to take “reckless steps” that provoke further degradation of what little remains of relations between Japan and Russia. Zakharova also said the measures demonstrate disregard for international law and bilateral agreements, further damage bilateral relations and make no contribution to a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.
She stressed that Tokyo’s unfriendly moves would not go unanswered. Russia, she said, would take proportionate countermeasures, focusing primarily on areas of interest to Japan.
According to CCTV+, Moscow has announced plans to respond to Japan’s latest sanctions package with proportionate measures as relations between Russia and Japan continue to deteriorate amid the Ukraine crisis.
