The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, has urged Japan to stop energy imports from Russia, in the context where India promises to do the same.

Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, stated that Washington expects Japan to stop energy imports from Russia, following a meeting with Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato. Japan, dependent on oil and gas imports, spent approximately 3.3 billion euros on liquefied natural gas from Russia in 2023, accounting for 8.9% of its total LNG imports. Kato avoided directly commenting on the American request, emphasizing Japan's commitment to working with the G7 for a peaceful solution in Ukraine. At the same time, Donald Trump announced that India will cease purchases of Russian oil, which could also influence other countries, including China. Bessent also mentioned discussions about mobilizing Japanese investments in the U.S. as part of a recent trade agreement aimed at $550 billion in investments. The modalities for implementing this agreement remain a subject of debate.