White House building in Washington DC. File photoTOKYO, Feb. 5 U.S. officials are urging Japan to consider imposing economic sanctions on Russia in the event of an escalation in Ukraine, but there are voices within the Japanese government not to make such threats, the Kyodo news agency reported. By According to the agency, according to American and Japanese informed sources, Washington outlined its position to Japan through diplomatic channels and called on official Tokyo to step up criticism of Moscow.Russia is ready to respond to European sanctions with counter-sanctions, Chizhov said. «According to an informed source in the Japanese government, Tokyo will be forced to take appropriate measures in the event of an invasion. However, there are calls within the government that, unlike the United States and European countries, it would be better not to declare intentions to impose sanctions before the invasion actually happens,» Kyodo said in a statement. Official representatives of the Japanese government, in particular, Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Secretary General of the Cabinet Hirokazu Matsuno, repeatedly stated during press conferences that the question of any concrete measures by Japan against Russia in the event of an escalation of the situation around Ukraine is hypothetical and will not be commented on. Kiev and Western states have recently expressed concern about the alleged increase in «aggressive actions» by Russia near the borders of Ukraine. Moscow has repeatedly denied such accusations, saying that it does not threaten anyone and does not intend to attack anyone, and claims of «Russian aggression» are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted earlier that Western statements about «Russian aggression» and the possibility of helping Kiev defend itself against it are both ridiculous and dangerous. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that Russia is moving troops within its territory and at its own discretion. According to him, this does not threaten anyone and should not bother anyone.
