Japan ready to join any US-led sanctions on Russia; Australia, New Zealand back Ukraine’s sovereignty

Name: Putin recognises 2 separatist regions in Ukraine, dulling hopes for US-Russia summit
Uploaded: 2022-02-22T04:50:31.000Z
Duration: 6 min
Description: Putin recognises 2 separatist regions in Ukraine, dulling hopes for US-Russia summit

The confirmation by Japan comes as Putin on Monday ordered troops into two breakaway regions in Eastern Ukraine that Russia now recognises as independent states

Elsewhere, Australia and New Zealand rejected Russia’s suggestion its troops had been sent to Ukraine for ‘peacekeeping’ purposes, and urged for diplomatic efforts to prevail

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Members of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces train on the outskirts of Kyiv. Photo: Bloomberg

Reuters

Published: 12:50pm, 22 Feb 2022Updated: 1:40pm, 9 Mar 2022

Japan on Tuesday said it stood ready to join the United States and other G7 industrialised nations in enacting sanctions on Russia should President Vladimir Putin order an invasion of Ukraine, while nations from South Korea to New Zealand urged for a peaceful settlement to the crisis through dialogue.

The confirmation by Tokyo comes as the crisis in Europe deepens, with the Russian leader on Monday ordering troops into two breakaway regions in Eastern Ukraine that Russia now recognises as independent states.

That action was “unacceptable and a violation of international law”, said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who called Putin on Thursday to urge restraint. Japan was ready for a strong response that could include sanctions, he added.

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Putin recognises 2 separatist regions in Ukraine, dulling hopes for US-Russia summit

Kishida’s office said he later held talks with Olaf Scholz, the leader of Germany, which holds the presidency of the G7, when the two re-affirmed cooperation on the Ukraine situation and agreed to monitor developments.

The White House said late on Monday it would announce new sanctions on Russia “in response to Moscow’s decisions and actions today”.

“We are coordinating with allies and partners on that announcement,” a White House spokesperson said.

Russia denies any plan to attack its neighbour, but it has amassed troops on Ukraine’s borders and threatened “military-technical” action unless it receives sweeping security guarantees, including a promise that Ukraine will never join Nato.

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