TOKYO, Sept 12, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Japan on Friday expanded sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, freezing the assets of more people and groups as well as slashing the Russian oil price cap.

Tokyo will freeze the assets of 14 individuals and 51 organisations, including Russian officials, company executives and pro-Russian figures in Ukraine, according to the foreign ministry.

Japan will also cut the current oil price cap to $47.60 from $60 per barrel, which was set in 2022 by the G7, aiming to restrict Russia's revenue.

The measure bans shipping firms and insurance companies dealing with Russia from exporting oil above the cap amount.

The decision follows the same move by the European Union and Britain in July.

"We hope to contribute to resolving the issues surrounding Ukraine by cooperating with the international community," top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said.

Japan has strongly backed the Western position on Ukraine, providing Kyiv with financial and material support and sanctioning Russian individuals and organisations.

In March, Moscow banned Japan's Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, the ambassador of Japan to Ukraine and seven other Japanese from entering the country in retaliation for Tokyo's sanctions.

In 2022, Russia prohibited then prime minister Fumio Kishida and his successor Shigeru Ishiba from entering the country.