Japan will adopt a two-pronged policy toward Moscow, maintaining sanctions in line with the Group of Seven's protest against the annexation of Ukraine's Crimea Peninsula while also helping to boost the Russian economy, according to government sources.
Japan will explain to the rest of the G-7 the need for the policy both to settle bilateral issues and allay growing concerns that Tokyo could withdraw from the anti-Russia coalition against the Crimea seizure, the sources said Sunday.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government believes in improving ties with Russia, but this does not preclude remaining tough on the Crimea issue, the sources said.