Russia says it is weighing countermeasures over Japan's new sanctions
In short
Russia's Foreign Ministry criticised Japan's additional sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine as “unfriendly” and “ill-considered,” and said it is considering countermeasures. Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on October 5 that Russia would take “proportionate countermeasures” in fields where Japan has interests. Japan announced the sanctions on October 2, including regulation of the so-called shadow fleet and asset freezes on nine individuals and 33 organisations.
Read the full story 2 min read
Russia's Foreign Ministry pushed back on Japan's additional sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine and said it is considering countermeasures, according to Jiji Press, NHK News and Sankei Shimbun. NHK reported that the ministry strongly criticised the measures as “unfriendly” and showed it was prepared to take some form of response. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on October 5 that Russia would take “proportionate countermeasures” in fields where Japan has interests, Jiji Press and Sankei reported. Yahoo! News Japan summarised the ministry's position as targeting “fields of interest to Japan.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 8 ]
The Japanese government announced the additional sanctions on October 2. Sankei Shimbun and Livedoor News, citing a Kyodo News report, said they cover regulation of the “shadow fleet” that carries Russian crude oil past sanctions, and asset freezes on nine Russian military-related individuals and 33 organisations. Jiji Press's report carried a subheading stating that the measures designate 35 vessels of the so-called shadow fleet; NHK mentioned only that Japan decided the sanctions on October 2, citing the continuing invasion of Ukraine. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Zakharova criticised Japan for aligning with the Euro-Atlantic region rather than serving its own national interests, Jiji Press reported, saying Tokyo had chosen to follow “like-minded countries” with a “pathological” fixation on Russia's strategic defeat. Sankei and Livedoor quoted her as saying Japan is pursuing a “diplomacy lacking autonomy” by falling into step with Europe and the United States. Jiji also reported her claim that the Takaichi administration is pushing the prospect of a long-term peace in Ukraine further away. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Sankei and Livedoor reported that Zakharova noted the 1957 Japan-Soviet trade treaty, which remains in force and led to expanded trade, and asked that no disadvantageous measures be taken against Russian ships and crew. [ 3 , 4 ]
Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun published headlines at 10:00 saying the Russian Foreign Ministry is considering retaliation and rejected the sanctions as “unfriendly”; the documents available for those outlets contain no article text. The documents do not say what form Russia's countermeasures would take or when they might be introduced. [ 5 , 6 ]
Why it matters
The threatened response adds a Russian countermeasures track to already strained Japan-Russia ties and signals Tokyo's sanctions over Ukraine may carry costs in areas where Japanese interests are at stake. The documents give no detail on the form or timing of any Russian measure, so the practical impact remains unclear, and the reaction so far is rhetorical rather than an action in force.
Key facts
- Russia's Foreign Ministry said it is considering countermeasures over Japan's additional sanctions and rejected them as “unfriendly.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on October 5 that Russia would take “proportionate countermeasures” in fields where Japan has interests. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Japan announced the additional sanctions on October 2, according to NHK News, Sankei Shimbun and Livedoor News. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Sankei Shimbun and Livedoor News reported that the measures cover regulation of the “shadow fleet” carrying Russian crude and asset freezes on nine military-related individuals and 33 organisations. [ 3 , 4 ]
- A Jiji Press subheading said the measures designate 35 vessels of the so-called shadow fleet. [ 1 ]
- Zakharova said the 1957 Japan-Soviet trade treaty remains in force and asked that no disadvantageous measures be taken against Russian ships and crew. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Zakharova said Japan is following Europe and the United States rather than serving its own national interests. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Russia's Foreign Ministry criticised Japan's additional sanctions as unfriendly and indicated it would take countermeasures. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Zakharova said Russian countermeasures would target fields of interest to Japan. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Japan announced additional sanctions against Russia on October 2. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- What form Russia's countermeasures will take and when they will be introduced. All the documents say only that a response is planned or being considered; none gives specifics.
- The designation of 35 “shadow fleet” vessels among the new sanctions. Stated only by Jiji Press, and only in its subheading, so it is a single-source detail not mentioned by other outlets.
- The asset freezes on nine individuals and 33 organisations. Reported by Sankei Shimbun and Livedoor News from the same Kyodo News report, and not mentioned by NHK News or Jiji Press.
- Zakharova's claim that the Takaichi administration is pushing the prospect of a long-term peace in Ukraine further away. This is a Russian official's assertion reported by one outlet and not corroborated elsewhere in the documents.
- The relevance of the 1957 Japan-Soviet trade treaty to any future Russian measure. Both outlets carrying the point draw on the same Kyodo News report, and neither says what the treaty obliges either side to do now.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Japanese government announces additional sanctions against Russia, according to NHK News, Sankei Shimbun and Livedoor News. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova says the Japanese measures are “ill-considered” and “non-friendly,” and says Russia will take “proportionate countermeasures” in fields where Japan has interests. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jiji Press publishes its report on Zakharova's remarks and the promised countermeasures. [ 1 ]
- NHK News publishes its report on Russia's criticism and its readiness to respond. [ 2 ]
- Sankei Shimbun publishes its report detailing the October 2 sanctions and the 1957 Japan-Soviet trade treaty argument. [ 3 ]
- Livedoor News publishes the Kyodo News account of the Russian reaction. [ 4 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun publish headlines saying Russia is considering retaliation over the “unfriendly” sanctions. [ 5 , 6 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan publishes a summary saying Russia will target “fields of interest to Japan.” [ 8 ]