On January 30, Maria Zakharova, an official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, announced that Moscow would take into account the unfriendly statements made by Japanese authorities when shaping its policy toward Japan.
Zakharova stated that recent remarks by Japan’s Finance Minister, who described sustaining Ukraine and sanctions against Russia as Tokyo’s top foreign policy priorities, confirm what she termed the “frankly unfriendly nature” of Japanese policy toward Russia.
She added that such actions by Japan do not contribute to constructive bilateral relations but instead exacerbate an already difficult situation.
Zakharova also noted that on December 11, Japan had not changed its position regarding frozen Russian assets. She further explained that as members of the Group of Seven, Japanese authorities approved a joint statement allowing for the full use of blocked Russian assets to support the Kiev regime.
Additionally, despite the absence of direct flights between the two countries, tourist flows have been rising steadily for the second consecutive year.
