Japanese media: The Japanese government plans to send a delegation to Russia in May, possibly to discuss importing crude oil from Russia

Ask AI · Why is Japan still seeking cooperation on Russian oil under sanctions?

【Global Network】According to Japan’s Kyodo News on April 2, amid attacks on Iran launched by the United States and Israel, the Japanese government plans to send an economic delegation to Russia in May, and importing crude oil from Russia may become a topic of discussion.

It is reported that the Japanese government has invited major Japanese business giants such as Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co. to take part in this visit. Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co. participated in Russia’s Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project. The project is led by the Russian side and is subject to U.S. sanctions; but in order to meet energy demands, the Japanese government allows Japanese companies to participate in the project.

The Japanese government has also invited Japanese companies involved in Russia’s Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project to join this visit.

The report says that after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, Japan’s energy imports have raised concerns, and importing crude oil from Russia may become one of the issues to be discussed during this visit. However, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict still not having ceased, Japan has followed the West in imposing economic sanctions on Russia, and the planned visit could spark controversy.

According to earlier reports by Russian officials, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko said that Russia will not supply oil to countries that support setting a price cap on Russian oil, including Japan. Rudenko noted that with the current energy market seeing severe fluctuations, supply shortages, and price increases, “but the Japanese government is still fixated on the so-called Russian oil price cap, which is an anti-market measure that disrupts supply chains. The Russian side has made it clear multiple times that it will not supply oil to countries that support such provocative actions.”