Japan announces new sanctions against Russia

The Japanese government has announced additional sanctions against Russia, the Nikkei newspaper reported. New restrictions include asset freezes and export bans for companies linked to the Russian military.

Japan announced new restrictive measures against Moscow at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, which started on May 19. According to the newspaper, we are talking about freezing the assets of about 100 individuals and organizations that are trying not to comply with the already imposed sanctions. Tokyo also imposes a ban on the export of products to about 80 Russian companies that are associated with the Russian Armed Forces. “Enterprises will also be prohibited from providing architectural and engineering services to Russian clients,” writes Nikkei.

On May 19, the United States imposed a series of blocking sanctions on the export of more than 1,200 items of goods to Russia and Belarus. Among the goods prohibited for export to Russia are construction materials, fabrics, paper, paints, vehicles, including boats and equipment, including for the food industry. It is noted that the ban also applies to the transfer of goods to people and organizations in Russia.

Sanctions were also imposed against 71 companies that threaten US interests – NPO Izhevsk Unmanned Systems, PJSC Proletarsky Zavod, NPK Tekhmash, Ulyanovsk Mechanical Plant, PJSC Kurganmashzavod, Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant, Bryansk Automobile Plant and Ural.

In addition, the US Department of the Treasury contributed the sanctions list includes about 30 companies – importers and manufacturers of electronics that supplied goods to Russia or were engaged in their production on Russian territory.

On May 19, a three-day summit of the heads of the G7 countries opened in Hiroshima, Japan (USA, Japan, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Canada, France, the leaders of the European Union, Australia, Brazil, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, the Cook Islands, Comoros and South Korea are also invited) . In a joint statement by the G-7 leaders on the situation in Ukraine, the seven countries plan to keep Russia’s sovereign assets frozen “until Moscow compensates for the damage from the conflict.” The G7 countries will take further action against the Russian financial sector, while maintaining financial channels for “necessary transactions.” The document also notes that the G7 countries will stop attempts “to prevent the use of branches of Russian banks in third countries to avoid sanctions.” According to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the goal is to develop sanctions in such a way that “it would be impossible to bypass them.” In addition, the G7 countries will continue to restrict exports of industrial equipment and technologies to Russia. At the same time, the “countries of the seven” expressed support for the extension of the grain deal.