Japan has officially joined the eighteenth package of sanctions from the European Union aimed at the Russian Federation. One of the key decisions was to lower the maximum price at which Russian oil can be purchased from $60 to $47.6 per barrel. This restriction took effect on September 12.
This is reported by Finway
Asset Freezing and New Restrictions
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stated that the government has also decided to freeze the assets of legal entities from Russia and some other countries. The exact number of companies that will be subject to the new restrictions has not yet been disclosed.
Japan has agreed with other G7 countries to gradually halt imports of Russian oil in response to Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Oil Imports from Sakhalin: An Exception to the Rule
Despite participating in international sanctions, Japan continues to import oil from Sakhalin Island. According to the country’s Ministry of Finance, from January to July 2025, Japanese companies imported 599,413 barrels of oil from Russia, which accounts for only 0.1% of the country’s total energy resource imports. At the same time, the government emphasizes that the so-called “black gold” from Sakhalin is not subject to the established price cap.
Thus, Japan demonstrates consistent support for international sanctions initiatives against Russia while maintaining limited exceptions for its own energy security.