Japan’s government on Monday approved a new sanctions package over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including a ban on exporting chemical weapons-related parts and products to Russia.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced in a statement the expansion of sanctions that already included more than 20 organizations associated with Russia’s defense industry.
“To contribute to international efforts, the Japanese executive on Monday approved the ban on exports to specific organizations in the Russian Federation,” the statement said.
The new package of sanctions covers the Moselektronproyekt construction company, the Etalon research and production association and the Alikhanov Institute for Theoretical and Experimental Physics at the Kurchatov National Research Center, the Russian news agency TASS reported.
Also on Monday, the Japanese government spokesman expressed serious concern about the possible use of weapons of mass destruction by Russia against Ukraine.
“As the only country in the world to have suffered from nuclear attacks, we strongly demand that the threat or use of nuclear weapons by Russia never happen,” Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference.
On September 17, US President Joe Biden warned his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, that there will be consequences if Russia uses nuclear or chemical weapons in Ukraine.
In an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Joe Biden said there would be “consequences” and that the Russians would “become the biggest outcasts the world has ever seen.”
“The answer will depend on the scope of what they do,” warned the US Democratic leader.
Japan has been imposing sanctions on Russia, banning imports of various materials and products from this country and freezing the assets of some Russian citizens, including those of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
The military offensive launched on February 24 by Russia in Ukraine has already caused the flight of almost 13 million people -more than six million internally displaced persons and almost seven million to neighboring countries-, according to the latest UN data, which places this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).
The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the international community in general, which has responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia in all sectors, from banking to energy and sports.
The UN presented as confirmed 5,587 civilian deaths and 7,890 wounded, stressing that the real figures are much higher and will only be known at the end of the conflict.
Source: TSF
