Japan will sanction Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and limit trade with Russia’s central bank over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Monday.
“In light of Belarus’s apparent involvement in this aggression, we will take sanctions against President Lukashenko and other individuals and organizations and export control measures,” Kishida said, after holding talks with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
“In order to improve the feasibility of financial sanctions against Russia in the international community, we have decided to impose sanctions to restrict transactions with the Central Bank of Russia,” Kishida added.
The moves come as Japan moves with Group of Seven partners to pressure Moscow over the invasion, with a series of sanctions on Russian financial institutions and chip exports.
Tokyo has also promised $100 million in loans and another $100 million in emergency humanitarian aid, and Kishida said measures will be taken to allow Ukrainians in the country to extend their stay if they are concerned about returning home.
In a tweet, Zelensky welcomed Japan’s moves to support “tough sanctions.”
“Thank you! A truly global anti-war coalition works.”
Source Credit: TheGuardian
