TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and different Group of Seven leaders adopted a set of further sanctions towards Russia over its struggle on Ukraine at a web-based G-7 summit Friday to mark the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the invasion.

The leaders renewed their dedication to “intensifying our diplomatic, monetary and army assist for Ukraine, to rising the prices to Russia and people supporting its struggle effort,” and countering the unfavourable influence on the remainder of the world, particularly probably the most weak folks, they mentioned in a press release, in keeping with the Japanese Overseas Ministry.

The G-7 international locations additionally affirmed their coordinated motion to “additional counter Russia’s capability to wage its unlawful aggression” and pledged to stop Russia from acquiring army gear and know-how. Additionally they known as on different international locations to cease offering army assist to Russia.

Kishida, as this 12 months’s G-7 president, additionally introduced Japan will impose further sanctions on Russia, together with freezing the property of some 120 people and organizations and banning the export of drones and different supplies that can be utilized for army functions.

“As a way to completely not permit one-sided adjustments to the established order, we should firmly perform assist for Ukraine and sanctions towards Russia to regain peace and worldwide order based mostly on the rule of legislation,” Kishida informed a information convention earlier than internet hosting a teleconference with different G-7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“G-7 serves the core of the worldwide dedication to take action,” he mentioned.

On the summit, Kishida deliberate to debate the most recent developments within the Russian struggle on Ukraine and learn how to assist Ukraine’s restoration and affirm G-7 solidarity for the war-torn nation.

Kishida famous rising concern about China’s potential switch of deadly weapons to Russia, and mentioned that Japan will cooperate with G-7 and different international locations to ship a “clear message” to 3rd international locations to cease supplying weapons to Russia.

Kishida additionally expressed “sturdy concern” about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement Tuesday that he was suspending Moscow’s participation in an arms management treaty between Russia and the US.

“Russia’s nuclear menace is unacceptable, and use of nuclear weapons ought to by no means occur,” Kishida, whose electoral constituency is Hiroshima, mentioned on the information convention. “Because the world’s solely nation to have suffered nuclear assaults, the 77-year historical past of non-nuclear weapons use shouldn’t be tarnished by Russia.”

Because the world noticed the one-year anniversary of Russia’s struggle on Ukraine, about 1,000 folks protested Friday night time in Tokyo’s Hibiya Park, holding banners saying: “Russia, cease invading Ukraine.” Exterior of the United Nations’ College in Tokyo, demonstrators held a candlelight vigil. And at Zenkoji temple in Nagano in central Japan, about 30 monks prayed for the lives misplaced within the struggle.

Prime diplomats from Ukraine, the US, Britain, Sweden, the EU, Lithuania and Sweden at a joint information convention in Tokyo known as for solidarity for Ukraine and condemned Russia. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel mentioned Putin is unsuitable to accuse NATO of increasing eastward. He mentioned the most recent NATO members expanded west by their free will as a result of the West has “a pull” of freedom, liberty and respect for people.

Additionally Friday, nuclear and safety specialists on a panel on the non-profit Sasakawa Peace Basis launched suggestions for the Kishida authorities to provoke discussions on the G-7 Hiroshima summit towards establishing a framework to guard nuclear amenities in battle areas, in response to Russia’s repeated assaults on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant in Ukraine.

On account of its pacifist ideas, Japan’s assist for Ukraine has been restricted to non-combative army gear comparable to helmets, bulletproof vests and drones, and humanitarian provides together with turbines.

Kishida is the one G-7 chief who has not visited Ukraine. Stress is mounting at residence for Kishida to go to Kyiv earlier than he hosts the G-7 summit in Hiroshima. Requested a couple of attainable go to, Kishida mentioned he’s “contemplating” a go to, considering methods to make sure security and secrecy, however nothing official has been determined.

Japan has joined the US and European nations in sanctioning Russia over its invasion and offering humanitarian and financial assist for Ukraine. Japan was fast to react as a result of it fears the attainable influence of a struggle in East Asia, the place China’s army has grown more and more assertive and has escalated tensions round self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.

Kishida on the on-line G-7 additionally defined Japan’s assist for Ukraine. That features a new $5.5 billion in monetary help, which Kishida unveiled Monday, bringing whole Japanese assist for Ukraine to greater than $7 billion.

Japan has additionally accepted greater than 2,000 displaced Ukrainians and helped them with housing help and assist for jobs and schooling — a uncommon transfer for a rustic that’s recognized for its strict immigration coverage.