News – Japan joins US and European allies to remove Russian Banks from SWIFT


Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a press conference in Tokyo Friday, Feb. 25, 2022, the day Japan announced additional sanctions against Russia in response to its attacks on Ukraine. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

Japan has decided to join the United States and European allies in removing selected Russian banks from the SWIFT international financial messaging system, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday.

Japan will also freeze assets of President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials, while sending $100 million in emergency humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Kishida told reporters.

“The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a unilateral attempt to change the status quo and the act shakes the foundation of the international order. It’s an outright violation to international law and we strongly denounce the act,” Kishida said. “Japan stands by the Ukrainian people who are fighting hard to defend their sovereignty and territory, their homeland and families.”