JAPAN will ban imports of Russian coal, said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, adding to pressure on Moscow after the European Union announced its own embargo on the fuel, Bloomberg reports
JAPAN will ban imports of Russian coal, said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, adding to pressure on Moscow after the European Union announced its own embargo on the fuel, Bloomberg reports. 'There needs to be accountability for such inhumane acts,' Mr Kishida told reporters in Tokyo, saying be believes Russia has committed war crimes in its invasion of Ukraine.
The plan signals a policy reversal for Japan, which had previously drawn a line at cutting energy ties to Russia because of its heavy dependence on fuel imports.
Mr Kishida didn't make clear the timeline for halting imports of coal, which make up about 13 per cent of Japan's power-generating supply.
The bold move by the Japanese government comes as pressure builds against Russia in response to reports that the country's forces committed apparent war crimes in Ukraine.
The EU has long agreed on to ban Russian coal imports, while the Group of Seven leaders issued a statement saying that the countries will ban new investment into Russia's energy sector and expand trade restrictions, including phasing out and banning coal imports.
Mr Kishida said Japan will also ban the imports of Russian goods such as vodka, and freeze the assets of about 550 Russian individuals and Sberbank of Russia PJSC and Alfa Bank PJSC. The government will also ban new investments in Russia.
The country has been reluctant to make a complete break with Mr Kishida also said Japan would not withdraw from the Sakhalin-1 offshore oil joint venture with Russia, or the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas export project, citing Japan's energy security needs.
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