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Japan Sends Moscow Delegation, Reaffirms Sanctions, No New Oil Deals

5/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Japan will send a delegation of officials to Moscow in May, with Minister Ryosei Akazawa saying the team will coordinate with Japanese firms there.
Akazawa rejected claims the trip seeks economic or energy cooperation and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to G7 sanctions, support for Ukraine, and unchanged Russian crude policy.
Tokyo has secured alternative crude covering 20 % of last year’s imports and contracts for about 1.4 million barrels per day in May.

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Story summary

Japan will send a delegation of officials to Moscow in May, with Minister Ryosei Akazawa saying the team will coordinate with Japanese firms there.
Akazawa rejected claims the trip seeks economic or energy cooperation and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to G7 sanctions, support for Ukraine, and unchanged Russian crude policy.
Tokyo has secured alternative crude covering 20 % of last year’s imports and contracts for about 1.4 million barrels per day in May.