Japan will impose sanctions on Russia and people linked to areas of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Kremlin separatists, the country's prime minister said on Wednesday (February 23rd), after Moscow ordered the dispatch of troops in disputed territory.
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These measures follow the decisions of the United States, Great Britain and the European Union to penalize Russian entities, following the decision of President Vladimir Putin to send soldiers to Donetsk and Lugansk.
Tokyo's sanctions include banning visas for people linked to the "
two so-called republics
", as well as freezing their assets and banning trade with those regions.
They also prohibit the issuance and trading of Russian government bonds in Japan.
"
We continue to follow the situation with great concern
," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters.
"
From the perspective of responding to this issue in cooperation with the international community, Japan has decided to impose sanctions
," he said.
Japan "
strongly condemns
" Russia's actions, he added, "
which undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in violation of international law
", adding that further sanctions were possible "
if the situation worsens.
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