TOKYO, July 30. /ITAR-TASS/. Japanese government is preparing to impose new sanctions on Russia, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Wednesday.

“We are preparing to take additional measures, including freezing of bank accounts. We intend to give a proper response with an emphasis on co-operation with G7 partners,” Suga said.

Yoshihide Suga said earlier on Monday about Japan’s intention to expand sanctions on Russia. “Japan will impose additional sanctions on Russia over a tense situation in Ukraine,” he noted. The Japanese chief cabinet secretary noted that new sanctions might envisage “freezing” of bank accounts of individuals and organisations which Tokyo found “involved in destabilisation of the situation in Ukraine” and a ban envisaging import of several goods from Russian Republic of Crimea. Japan still hopes for Ukrainian crisis settlement in the peaceful way, Suga said. “The situation in Ukraine should be settled in diplomatic talks,” the Japanese high-ranking government official said,” adding that “It is needed to begin peace talks as quickly as possible, introduce a stricter border control and stop weapons supplies to Ukraine.” Suga proposed to Russia “to take advantage of its influence on militia and provide for the work of international experts at the Boeing-777 crash site.”

On March 18, Japan introduced first package of sanctions on Russia which was caused by Russia’s position on Crimea. Then these penalties envisaged suspension of talks on easier visa rules and start of talks on possible conclusion of three treaties: on investment co-operation, co-operation in space exploration and prevention of dangerous military activity. On July 24, in additional to this Tokyo said that the country suspended to issue entry visas for 23 representatives of Russian official agencies and other people.

Russian Foreign Ministry took this “as an unfriendly and short-sighted step based on a deeply wrong idea about real reasons for what is going on in Ukraine.”

The Japanese demarche shows that “Tokyo repeated pledges to continue efforts to develop relations with Russia are just a cover-up which masks Japanese politicians’ incapability to get beyond usual following in the wake of Washington, pursue its own policy meeting vital national interests of the homeland.”

Tokyo’s new sanctions on Russia “no matter what reasons are given will inevitably damage the whole scope of bilateral relations and set them back.” “Japan should realise this,” Russian Foreign Ministry said.