MOSCOW, May 15/Prime Japan's upcoming summit this week to tighten sanctions against Moscow, the new measures will, among other things, aim to limit exports to Russia of goods that could benefit the Russian military, Reuters reported, citing unnamed officials.
According to him, the measures, which are planned to be announced during the meetings on May 19-21, are aimed at «limiting trade that supports the Russian armed forces.» The agency does not indicate what specific goods are in question. In addition, the G7 measures will be aimed at preventing «sanction evasion by third countries», as well as «undermining Russia's future energy production.»
In addition, US officials expect G7 members to agree to adjust their approach to sanctions so that all exports of at least certain categories of goods are automatically banned — unless these goods are on the list of goods allowed for export.
It is noted that the US administration has previously pushed the G7 allies to abandon the current approach to sanctions, which allows the sale of any goods to Russia, provided that they are «not explicitly blacklisted.»
According to the agency, the change in approach «may make it difficult for Moscow to find gaps in the sanctions regime.» Washington's G7 allies do not agree to the broad application of such a new approach, but US officials expect that in areas «most sensitive to the Russian military» there will be a «presumption» that all exports are prohibited if a particular product is not included in the special list.
«There will be a change in the presumption in several areas, especially those related to Russia's defense industrial base,» a US official, who asked to remain anonymous, told the agency.
Japan takes over G7 presidency in 2023. The G7 leaders' summit will be held in Hiroshima May 19-21.
The Russian Federation has repeatedly stated that the country will cope with the sanctions pressure that the West began to exert on Russia several years ago and continues to strengthen. Moscow noted that the West lacks the courage to acknowledge the failure of sanctions against the Russian Federation. In the Western countries themselves, opinions have been heard more than once that anti-Russian sanctions are ineffective. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously stated that the policy of containing and weakening Russia is a long-term strategy for the West, and sanctions have dealt a serious blow to the entire global economy. According to him, the main goal of the West is to worsen the lives of millions of people.