Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 11, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
Japan protests Russia's entry ban extension on 30 citizens amid Ukraine conflict, maintaining energy imports from Sakhalin despite diplomatic tensions.
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan decried as "absolutely unacceptable" on Wednesday Russia's extension of an entry ban to 30 more citizens, among them a foreign ministry spokesperson, after Tokyo's sanctions over Moscow's nearly four-year-old war in Ukraine.
Following similar moves by Western nations, Japan had placed additional sanctions on Russian companies, individuals and other entities in September, while lowering its cap on Russian seaborne crude.
Russia's foreign ministry issued on Tuesday a list of Japanese added to those facing "indefinite" prohibition. The new names included the spokesperson, Toshihiro Kitamura, as well as journalists and academics.
Japan has protested against the "regrettable" move, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a briefing on Wednesday, adding that people-to-people exchanges between the two countries remain important.
He accused Moscow of shifting the blame for its invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow has taken similar measures against Japanese officials and civilians in retaliation for sanctions.
Japan, however, continues to import energy from the far-eastern Russian island of Sakhalin, despite calls by the United States for allies to sever ties to pressure Moscow.
Asked how Britain's ban on insurance for Russian gas shipping would affect energy from Sakhalin and whether Tokyo would increase sanctions on Moscow, Kihara declined to comment.
Japan will take appropriate steps to achieve peace in Ukraine while securing its national interests, he added.
(Reporting by Reuters; Additional reporting by Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Clarence Fernandez)
Sanctions are penalties or restrictions imposed by one country on another to influence its behavior. They can include trade restrictions, financial penalties, or travel bans.
Foreign exchange, or forex, refers to the global marketplace for trading national currencies against one another. It is essential for international trade and investment.
Energy import refers to the purchase of energy resources, such as oil or gas, from foreign countries. This is crucial for countries that do not produce enough energy domestically.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
