Japan opts for sanctions against Russia but considers it important to maintain relations

Anti-Russian sanctionsJapan opts for sanctions against Russia but considers it important to maintain relations Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara added that Tokyo would continue to promote support for recovery and reconstruction to strengthen Ukraine’s socio-economic systemTOKYO, July 3. /TASS/. The Japanese government supports the G7’s sanctions policy against Russia, yet simultaneously considers it necessary to maintain relations with Russia as a neighboring country, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said. "As for our actions regarding Russia, we will pursue a policy of sanctions against the Russian Federation in cooperation with the international community, including G7 nations," he said, adding that Tokyo would continue to promote "support for recovery and reconstruction to strengthen Ukraine’s socio-economic [system]." "At the same time, given that Russia is a neighboring country and maintaining bilateral relations is important, we will continue to act accordingly within the framework of our foreign policy, based on what serves our country’s national interests," Kihara noted. Since 2022, Japanese authorities have imposed several packages of sanctions against Russia, leading to a significant curtailment of bilateral ties. Russian Ambassador to Tokyo Nikolay Nozdrev previously said in an interview with TASS that relations had deteriorated to an unprecedented low due to Japan’s hostile policy. The diplomat identified Tokyo’s abandonment of its unfriendly course as a prerequisite for restoring relations and re-establishing interstate contacts. TagsSanctions vs. RussiaJapanMiddle East conflictIsraeli army reports strikes on ten Hezbollah facilities in LebanonAccording to the Israeli side, the attacks were carried out in response to Hezbollah’s continued violations of the ceasefire agreementRead moreSenior diplomats from Russia, China, Mongolia discuss trilateral cooperationThe sides also exchanged opinions on the security situation in northeast Asia, cooperation under the UN framework and as part of other organizationsRead moreLearning personally from Putin about Russia’s foreign policy important for Turkey — FidanThe Foreign Minister added that it is important for Turkey to understand Russia’s position on the "ongoing peace process in the Caucasus," positions and opinions on Palestine, Gaza, Lebanon, and SyriaRead moreRussia strongly condemns brutal Ukrainian strike on Tokmak — diplomatAccording to preliminary reports, five people were killed and 18 others suffered injuries, Maria Zakharova saidRead moreKremlin sees Germany's continued sponsoring of Ukraine as paradoxDmitry Peskov commented on Germany’s move to bring charges of sabotaging the gas pipelines against a Ukrainian nationalRead moreTurkey calls Israel ‘problem for whole world’Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Israeli authorities "have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear"Read moreNo more difference between two major US political parties — Marjorie Taylor GreeneThe former lawmaker opined that it would be some time before a third powerful political force emerged in the USRead moreFinland takes side in Ukrainian conflict, to which has no relation — politicianArmando Mema, a member of the conservative Freedom Alliance party, says that in recent years, Finland has pursued a terrible policy towards Russia Read moreMoldovan prime minister announces resignationAlexandru Munteanu said he could no longer carry out his mandate in accordance with his principles and convictionsRead moreSomali pirates demand $10 mln for release of tanker — portalAccording to the news outlet, the vessel, which sails under the Togolese flag, was seized on May 2 in the Gulf of Aden while transporting diesel fuel from the UAERead moreInvestigators establish Monaco bomber identity — AFPAn arrest warrant has been issuedRead moreKremlin briefing covers Russia's massive strike on Ukraine, EU's confrontation with MoscowThe European Union's escalation toward Russia further intensifies already heightened tensions across Europe, Dmitry Peskov saidRead moreRussia, Belarus need to repel any attacks on Union State’s security — LavrovSergey Lavrov emphasized that Russia is firmly committed to close foreign policy coordination with Belarusian alliesRead moreInvestigation sees woman behind Monaco explosion — Le FigaroSeveral newspaper sources claim that the woman conducted reconnaissance several days and several hours before the explosionRead moreUkrainian army suffering heavy losses, fact evident during bodies swaps — MFAThe losses suffered by Kiev on the battlefield are enormous, the diplomat stressedRead moreRussian embassy in Sweden comes under drone attack againThe embassy condemned the attack as a blatant attempt to intimidate the Russian missionRead moreRussia sends humanitarian aid to Venezuela following earthquake — Foreign MinistryThe humanitarian cargo includes tents for the temporary accommodation of displaced people, food, medicines needed under the current circumstancesRead moreRussian troops liberate Piskunovka community in Donetsk region over past day — top brassRussia’s Battlegroup South inflicted roughly 155 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed three enemy armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the past day, the Defense Ministry reportedRead moreOver 200 children in Russia affected by Ukrainian attacks from April to June — ambassadorRodion Miroshnik said that it is the highest figure in the past two yearsRead moreIN BRIEF: What is known about Russian massive retaliatory strike against UkraineMilitary-industrial enterprises and facilities of the fuel and energy complex in the city of Kiev and the Kiev region were struck, as well as the infrastructure of military airfields in the Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Cherkassy, Chernigov, and Kiev regionsRead moreMonaco blast probably perpetrated by Ukrainian woman residing in Germany — newspaperAccording to the Le Figaro article, the woman fled towards the commune of Beausoleil in southern France and later crossed into a neighboring countryRead moreIsrael tests its Iron Beam laser as part of modernized Iron Dome systemThe Israeli Defense Ministry called the capabilities demonstrated during the test "a significant leap in the system's ability to counter a wide range of attack scenarios"Read moreUS believes that Israel plotted assassination of Araghchi, Ghalibaf — NYTAccording to the newspaper sources, when Washington learned about plans to assassinate the Iranian parliament speaker, it asked Israel to refrain from such attemptsRead moreWest conducting disinformation campaign to justify Kiev’s terrorism — diplomatThe terrorist war has entered a new phase, Rodion Miroshnik saidRead morePutin extends Independence Day greetings to Belarus’ LukashenkoThe Russian president noted that Moscow and Minsk had been working together productively in all areas, coordinating their efforts in countering external threats and challengesRead moreMoscow, Minsk coordinating their efforts to counter external threats — PutinThe Russian president emphasized that Belarus’ Independence Day was significant to Russians as well because it was linked to a glorious event in their shared history: the liberation of Minsk from Nazi invadersRead morePortugal advances to next round of FIFA World Cup playoffPortugal defeated Croatia 2:1Read moreEpstein case reveals real face of Western elites seeking to rule world — Lavrov"It is unnecessary to explain to any normal person that this is pure Satanism and is beyond human comprehension," the Russian Foreign Minister addedRead moreRussian troops in Krasny Liman come across Colombian mercenaries fighting for UkraineThe commander of a motorized rifle battalion reported that Ukrainian forces in Krasny Liman are not attempting any counterattacks but are putting up sporadic resistance while hiding in basementsRead moreRussia’s Mnogotochiye rounds can shoot down enemy drone with first shot — RostecDuring the test, the presenter hit a drone with an attached soda bottle to visualize the damage with the first shotRead moreUK not to change Russia policy under new PM — ambassadorAccording to Andrey Kelin, the Labour Party had a chance to make a fresh start when they came to power in 2024, but they failed to seize itRead moreGermany's deindustrialization began with Nord Stream blasts, RDIF head Dmitriev saysThe Russian special presidential representative said it was accompanied by Germany's economic declineRead moreCzech PM hits back at US criticism of Prague’s implementation of NATO commitmentsAndrej Babis said that the Czech Republic is not a colony, but a partnerRead moreTrump, Kim join world leaders congratulating Lukashenko on Independence DayThe US president conveyed his "sincere wishes for a peaceful and prosperous year" to Lukashenko and the people of BelarusRead moreWoman killed by Ukrainian projectile in BelgorodThe attack caused serious damage to power infrastructure and led to disruptions in electricity and water supplies to the city’s residentsRead moreUkrainian attack on city bus in Lugansk People’s Republic leaves 12 injuredLeonid Pasechnik added that Russian investigators continued to document the consequences of such attacksRead moreTop Russian defence official calls strengthening Black Sea Fleet’s capabilities 'priority'Andrey Belousov presented state awards to Black Sea Fleet servicemen who distinguished themselves while carrying out combat missionsRead moreRussian forces hit Kiev facility that manufactures Flamingo missile control systemsThe Russian forces delivered the strike in retaliation to the Kiev regime’s attacks on civilian infrastructure on Russian territoryRead moreMissile strike on Belgorod, fire near Smolensk, 155 UAVs target Russia: new attackA woman was killed and another was injured after a Ukrainian munition struck the city of BelgorodRead moreChinese mobile UAV launch systems changing rules of war — expertYue Gang explained that containerized modular weapon systems provide "a distributed, intelligent combat architecture spanning both maritime and land domains"Read moreRussian troops liberate 11 communities in Ukraine operation over week — top brassRussian troops delivered one massive and five combined strikes by precision weapons and UAVs on Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises, energy facilities and logistics centers over the weekRead moreAmericans are 'tired of being engaged in foreign wars' — former US lawmakerMarjorie Taylor Greene argued that the war with Iran had imposed significant economic costs on the United StatesRead moreAttacker who caused explosion in Monaco stays in Europe — TVAccording to the channel, it is not Monaco or FranceRead moreLondon is deluded in its belief that proxy wars can go unpunished — Russian ambassadorAndrey Kelin highlighted the British government's promises to supply Kiev with hundreds of thousands of UAVs, as well as the initial testing of long-range missilesRead moreRussian forces strike facilities used by Kiev for killing civilians — MFAMaria Zakharova noted that, according to Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, it was a terrible night for the cityRead moreEU’s transformation, Kiev’s involvement in Nord Stream sabotage: Kremlin’s briefingThe EU is spending enormous sums of money on the militarization of national economies, a reality that Russia takes into account, Dmitry Peskov stressedRead moreFACTBOX: What we know about blast involving Rylsky District officials in Kursk RegionFour people sustained injuriesRead moreEU Court of Justice allows criminal prosecution for reposting RT videos — judgementThe court ruled that the EU sanctions ban on RT broadcasts "applies also to a website accessible to the public free of charge"Read moreAmid Russian advance Ukraine is trying to draw Belarus into conflict — senior diplomatMikhail Galuzin emphasized that Moscow and Minsk remain prepared to utilize the full scope of their bilateral security agreement to safeguard their shared interests should Kiev's provocations escalate furtherRead moreUkraine attacked Belarusian bus to provoke Minsk — Russian SenatorKiev is also trying to intimidate residents of the Union State, threatening reprisals for trying to enter the territory of Russia, Russian Senator from the Kherson Region Igor Kastyukevich saidRead moreRussian military chief reports to Putin results of massive strike on Ukraine — KremlinDmitry Peskov highlighted that the strikes had targeted only military or military-related facilitiesRead moreZelensky becoming 'lame duck' even for Kiev hardliners — governorKherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo noted that Vladimir Zelensky’s presidential term has ended and that the head of the Kiev regime is clinging to power through a ban on normal political competitionRead moreRussia’s Mnogotochiye assault rifle rounds can neutralize drones at 300 m range — RostecA cartridge bullet consists of three elements, and each of them spins upon exiting the barrel to stabilize the shotRead moreTrump says he congratulated Musk on becoming trillionaireThe US leader added that he had "very good relations" with the entrepreneurRead moreSenior Russian senator says high time to stop calling Britain ‘Great’According to Konstantin Kosachev, Britain is a "unique" country in many respectsRead moreMedvedev attends funeral ceremony for Ali KhameneiThe ceremony is taking place at the Imam Khomeini Mosalla, Tehran's largest religious and public complexRead moreSpain defeats Austria in its first World Cup playoff victory in 16 yearsThe match ended with a score of 3:0Read moreUK, EU countries finance killings of Russian civilians by Kiev — Foreign MinistryRussian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik stressed that everyone who voted to provide Kiev with a 90-billion loan to continue its terrorist war over the next two years has taken part in the killing of civiliansRead moreFSB foils terrorist plot on railway in Stavropol RegionAccording to the FSB, the suspect photographed the intended target and purchased chemicals to make Molotov cocktailsRead moreKiev troops shell DPR 15 times in past day, one killedFour people were woundedRead moreDutch Advisory Council on International Affairs recommends sending military to UkraineThe body that advises the Dutch government and parliament on foreign policy says the Netherlands should take part in a potential international military mission to Ukraine when a ceasefire agreement is reachedRead moreRussia develops augmented reality system for mobile fire team trainingDesigned for on-site training at actual combat positions, the system eliminates the need for ammunition expenditure and reduces barrel wearRead morePractically all La Guaira officials killed during earthquake — acting presidentDelcy Rodriguez separately said the government would announce economic measures aimed at rebuilding the country on FridayRead moreRussia begins testing new Svarog pro AI-assisted interceptor drone in combatThe drone that is designed to engage fixed-wing UAVs is hand-launched and is used jointly with a ground-based control station, enabling an operator to strike targets at a distance of up to 17 kmRead moreMerz sends more money to Kiev despite its role in Nord Stream sabotage — politicianSahra Wagenknecht urged the German government to resume imports of Russian gasRead moreSlovenian lawmaker questions idea of upping defense spending to please TrumpSlovenia could either "continue investing in projects that benefit the people" or "simply listen to what ‘daddy’ says and purchase only American weapons", said Martin Premk, a member of the Slovenian lower house of parliament representing the Freedom Movement, the largest opposition factionRead moreNATO allies now assume more security responsibilities — PentagonUnder Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby says Washington wants to see NATO as "an alliance of partnership, not dependency"Read moreWest behind Ukraine terrorist state project now threatening Europe — politicianKiev has already issued threats to European politicians too, Viktor Medvedchuk recalledRead moreFive dead, 18 injured: what is known about Ukrainian attack on Zaporozhye marketA drone struck the city market in Tokmak in the Zaporozhye RegionRead moreZelensky says Kiev in contact with US negotiatorsAs the situation in the Middle East somewhat stabilized, the possibility of Whitkoff and Kushner returning to mediation in the Ukrainian settlement has been reported several times recently, but no dates have been announced yetRead moreOnly one session scheduled at NATO summit to keep Trump’s attention — newspaperAccording to the report, organizers will deliberately shorten the session duration to focus the US president’s attention on increasing defense spendingRead moreKaliningrad constantly on presidential, governmental agenda, Kremlin spokesman saysAccording to Dmitry Peskov, the development of the region is an ongoing priorityRead moreEU to grant Armenia €38 mln and open market for 80% of its goods — von der LeyenEC President Ursula von der Leyen said that Armenia will soon receive an additional €18 million to help strengthen and diversify its tradeRead moreRussian diplomat comments on Ukrainian casualties, new phase of Kiev’s terrorismThe West does everything to shield Kiev from accountability, a stance that only emboldens terrorists, Rodion Miroshnik emphasizedRead moreFinland on list of targets for Russian nuclear weapons — MedvedevThe deputy chairman of the Security Council explained that this happened after Finland lifted its ban on the import of nuclear weaponsRead moreBomb in Monaco house activated when Yermolayev’s companion passed by — TV"When Anna Nasobina passed by the bomb, the suspect detonated the explosive device using an object similar to a remote control," the source saidRead moreUS attained practically all its goals during negotiations with Iran — TrumpThe US president said he was not going to wage a war against Iran for yearsRead moreRussian forces deliver retaliatory massive strike on Ukraine — top brassMilitary-industrial sites, energy infrastructure, and military airfields’ infrastructure were damaged in the Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Cherkassy, Chernigov, and Kiev regionsRead moreRussia ranks as EU's third-largest gas supplier in first half of year, trailing Norway, USAccording to calculations, total Russian gas supplies to the EU in January-June amounted to approximately 22.1 billion cubic metersRead moreFACTBOX: What we know about Ukrainian drone attack on Minsk-Anapa bus in Bryansk RegionTwo bus drivers from Belarus' Gomel Region and one passenger were injured as a result of the drone attackRead moreFour more drones downed while approaching Moscow — mayorFirst responders are working at the crash sitesRead moreBulgarian PM confirms readiness to veto EU's 21st sanctions package against RussiaRumen Radev emphasized that he would do that in order to defend Bulgaria's national interestsRead moreGold futures top $4,200 per ounce first time since June 22As of 4:24 a.m. Moscow time, gold prices gained 1.96%Read moreKiev deliberately targeted bus carrying Belarusians in Bryansk Region — Russian envoyBoris Gryzlov noted that it was the second consecutive deliberate strike by Kiev against Belarusian citizens on Russian territoryRead moreKiev records health-threatening levels of air pollution — TVSince late last week, air pollution has been present in Kiev due to smoke from fires in the Chernobyl exclusion zoneRead morePower in UK changing in undemocratic manner — senior Russian senatorKonstantin Kosachev urged to avoid falling for the lures of the Western neighbors, "who supposedly have the most progressive forms of democracy"Read moreBullet found among ‘d’Artagnan’s remains’ in Maastricht turns out to be a nailThe researchers acknowledged that the discovery sheds no light on the cause of the man’s death and has no significance for establishing his identityRead moreRussia successfully tests new fixed-wing FPV training droneThe trials took place at the Moscow Military District's counter-UAV centerRead moreMoscow, Minsk to defend their interests on world stage through partnership — PutinThe Russian leader wished his Belarusian counterpart good health and success and the Belarusian people well-being and prosperityRead moreSaudi Arabia sent largest oil shipment in four months through HormuzThis indicates an increase in Saudi Arabia's oil exports after the United States and Iran agreed in June to resume maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, Bloomberg said Read moreUS offers Iran access to frozen funds for free Hormuz Strait passageIran rejected the proposal, insisting on its right to control the Strait of Hormuz, while its military also threatened tough measures against vessels that do not use routes approved by Tehran, The Wall Street Journal notedRead moreThree in serious condition after drone strike on bus in Lugansk People’s RepublicNine people suffered injuries, Assistant Health Minister Alexey Kuznetsov saidRead moreRussia takes plans to militarize Britain and Europe seriously — ambassadorAndrey Kelin underscored Russia’s stance of non-aggressionRead moreMobile UAV jammer protects Russian troops, vehicles from enemy drones — tech firmThe ‘Puzzle’ radio jammer operates within a 300-meter radiusRead moreSwitzerland advances to Round of 16 of FIFA World CupIn the Round of 16, Switzerland will face the winner of the match between Colombia and GhanaRead moreRussian government permits sales of Euro-3 fuel in Russia until year-endSeveral oil processing plants were allowed to produce gasoline with higher maximum permitted sulfur contentRead morePutin supported request for extra fuel supplies to Kaliningrad Region — KremlinThe head of state also backed a request "to allocate funds for subsidized air tickets for residents of the Kaliningrad Region," Dmitry Peskov saidRead moreRussia says EAEU shares its concern about Armenia's rapprochement with EUDeputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin added that these two integration associations are fundamentally incompatibleRead morePress review: Iran, US far from peace deal and EU seeks to disrupt Russia-Armenia tiesTop stories from the Russian press on Friday, July 3rdRead morePress review: US military aid to Israel debate grows as US ramps up pressure on CubaTop stories from the Russian press on Thursday, July 2ndRead moreKiev is remotely blockading populated areas with mines, drones — Russian envoyA particularly illustrative example cited was the effort by Kiev forces to create an artificial blockade around the town of Alyoshki in the Kherson RegionRead more