Ambassador Sumi comments on annexation of Crimea: Japan to keep supporting anti-Russian sanctions

Japan will keep supporting anti-Russian sanctions as long as Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea continues.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi said this in an interview with Ukrinform.

"Japan’s position is that it does not recognize and will not recognize in the future the "annexation" of Crimea proclaimed by Russia. Therefore, Japan will continue anti-Russian sanctions as long as Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea continues. This is compliant with our foreign policy principles – Japan will never recognize changes of the status quo by force,” the ambassador said.

He added that this issue related to Japan itself. “There are attempts of the status quo changes by force in the East China Sea and other places. Japan, of course, opposes such attempts,” Sumi stressed.

According to the ambassador, the annexation of Crimea and the events in the seas of Asia look different at first glance, but in fact they are connected with each other.