Japan Announces New Russia Sanctions

FILE - Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

Japan has announced additional sanctions on Russia over unrest in Ukraine and urged Moscow to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says the new sanctions will tighten restrictions on arms exports to Russia, as well as ban some Russian banks from issuing securities in Japan.

"Japan continues to work together with the G7 nations and the international society to resolve the situation in Ukraine in a peaceful and diplomatic manner," Suga said.

Japan has already issued two sets of sanctions on Russia this year, but the latest restrictive measures bring it in line with those laid out by the United States and the European Union in recent weeks.

Russia's foreign ministry says it is disappointed with new sanctions imposed by Japan, saying the decision to impose them seems illogical and an "unfriendly step."