Japan has approved additional sanctions against Russia over its war on Ukraine, including freezing the assets of dozens of individuals and groups and banning exports to dozens of organizations in Russia and several other countries that have allegedly helped it evade sanctions.

On December 31, 2024, the American business daily Financial Times revealed that it had got its hands on secret Russian military files dating back to the early 2000s. In the just-published investigation,

Japan announced a significant expansion of sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. This move is part of an international effort to increase pressure on Russia and stop the ongoing conflict.

Japan will also ban the export of 335 more goods, including small motorcycles and components for special-purpose vehicles such as cranes, to Russia starting on Jan. 23. The aim is to strengthen Japan's response to North Korea's support for Russia and Moscow's use of third countries to evade sanctions.

LIVE: Is Russia Planning a War Against Japan and South Korea? | Vantage with Palki Sharma Russia has set its sights on new targets—Japan and South Korea. Leaked military documents reveal that the Russian military has compiled a list of 160 potential targets across both countries,

Russia developed offensive plans targeting civilian and military sites in Japan and South Korea in the event of a war with NATO, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 31, citing documents shown to the outlet by Western sources.

Vantage with Palki Sharma Leaked Russian military documents have revealed detailed plans for potential strikes on Japan and South Korea. The plans include targeting civilian infrastructure like nuclear power stations,

Japan’s military chiefs are warning that the country faces its most severe and complex security environment since World War II, attributing the outlook to China, Russia, North Korea and instability in the Middle East.

The male Siberian cat, named Mir, was gifted by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Akita Governor Norihisa Satake as a symbol of friendship between Russia and Japan. Mir recently departed for feline heaven.

The new measures targeted individuals and entities from Russia, China, the United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Turkey, and North Korea.

United States and Japan are dusting off old geopolitical frameworks for the Pacific not seen since World War II.