German, Japan's Policies Coincide in Keeping Anti-Russia Sanctions in Place

German and Japanese interests in relations with Russia differ, but the two countries coincide in keeping the sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine crisis in place, experts told Sputnik.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Monday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Tokyo for an official visit, the first in seven years. During discussions, Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated their commitment to a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine crisis and called on Moscow to play a constructive role in the settlement.

Speaking on the subject, Gauri Khandekar, head of the Agora Asia-Europe program in the European Think Tank Fride, told Sputnik that in the context the Ukraine crisis, Japan and Germany both believe that the conflict is now an international issue. Within that definition, Khandekar argues that the sanctions must remain in place.

“Both primarily believe that dialogue with Russia is essential. Japan is hoping to negotiate a peace treaty with Russia and Germany has large economic interests tied up in Russia,” he added.

Hanns Gunther Hilpert, an expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), told Sputnik that despite Japanese and European views of Russia not typically coinciding, they may be tending toward alignment over the Ukraine conflict.

However, from the EU prospective the image of Russia is more positive than from Japan’s viewpoint, he added.

“The view of Russia has been more positive from the European side when compared to how the Japanese were viewing Russia,” Hilpert, Head of SWP research division told Sputnik.

A number of Western countries have introduced several rounds of economic sanctions against Russia, blaming it for fueling the fighting in Ukraine. Japan has not joined the sanctions against the Russian economy, but has restricted arms trade with Moscow.

Russian authorities have repeatedly denied military involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, stressing that the sanctions are counterproductive and do nothing to contribute to a peaceful resolution.