Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, the Japanese government has been making multifaceted efforts to support Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia.

First, in terms of economic sanctions, Japan has imposed asset freezes and export/import restrictions on Russian financial institutions, energy companies, and defense industry companies. It has also completely banned imports of Russian coal and gold, and blocked the use of the international payment system for Russian state-owned banks. In addition, Japan has started to establish a fund for Ukraine's economic recovery and reconstruction.

On the military front, as part of sanctions against Russia, Japan has banned arms exports to Russia. In addition, Japan is supporting Ukraine's military strength by providing non-lethal military supplies such as body armor, field hospitals, and advanced equipment to the Ukrainian government army.

The government has prioritized support for Ukraine in the short term following the Russian invasion, but in the medium to long term, it intends to focus on maintaining peace and stability in the East Asian region. In particular, as Japan is wary of China's military threats and nuclear development, it plans to promote a strengthening of its own military capabilities in the future.

The Japanese government believes that Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a serious threat to the international order, and ultimately will inevitably have a negative impact on peace and prosperity in the East Asian region. Therefore, Japan intends to respond resolutely to Russia's invasion while actively preparing for changes in the security environment in Northeast Asia.