Japan Weighs New Sanctions on Russia's Oil-Evading Fleet

The Japanese government is considering implementing additional sanctions on Russia's 'shadow fleet' to cut off funding for Russian crude oil exports, according to a report by Yomiuri Shimbun. The move aims to target the vessels that transport oil while evading Western sanctions and are primarily used to export crude oil to countries like China and India.

The decision comes amid strained relations between Japan and Russia, which have worsened since Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands last August. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticized the visit, stating that it 'hurt the feelings of the Japanese people' and made bilateral relations difficult to recover.

However, following President Putin's recent remarks expressing hope for improving Japan-Russia relations, some analysts see a potential glimmer of optimism. Abiru Daisuke, a senior research fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, noted that President Putin mentioned 'areas of mutual interest' between the two countries, including energy relations.