Fumio KishidaTOKYO, Jan 26The Japanese government is following the situation around Ukraine with concern and intends to respond, taking into account the position of the G7 countries, the Kyodo news agency reported, citing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's statement during a meeting of the parliamentary budget commission. «We are following the situation with great concern ( around Ukraine — ed.) while Russia is building up its military presence (on the border — ed.). We intend to respond appropriately, attaching particular importance to the course of action of the G7 countries,» the agency quotes the words of the head of the Japanese government. commissions on foreign policy of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, headed by Kishida, during a joint meeting advocated the imposition of economic sanctions against Russia «in the event of a military invasion of Ukraine». According to the Kyodo agency, «as a specific sanction, those present proposed to introduce a ban on the import of natural gas from Russia. Russia has repeatedly rejected accusations by the West and Ukraine of «aggressive actions», saying that it does not threaten anyone and is not going to attack anyone, and statements about «Russian aggression» are used as an excuse to place more NATO military equipment near Russian borders. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously noted that Western statements about «Russian aggression» and the possibility of helping Kiev defend itself against it are both ridiculous and dangerous. At the same time, Kiev and Western states have recently expressed concern about the alleged increase in «aggressive actions» sides of Russia near the borders of Ukraine. 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.
