TOKYO, October 6. /TASS/. Moscow will continue to respond to Japan’s sanctions by taking systemic countermeasures aimed at hurting Tokyo’s interests in areas it finds sensitive, the Russian Embassy in Japan said in a statement.

"We will respond to such steps with systemic countermeasures aimed at hurting Tokyo’s interests in areas it finds sensitive," the statement reads. The embassy also pointed to a contradiction between "bombastic proclamations about readiness to contribute to a peaceful settlement" voiced by Tokyo and its plans "to promote further defense cooperation with Kiev." The embassy also warned that full responsibility for "the inevitable negative consequences" would lie with Japan.

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier, commenting on the new Japanese sanctions, that they proved Tokyo’s foreign policy lacked independence.

On October 2, Japan expanded its Russia-related sanctions lists by adding 33 companies and nine individuals from Russia, as well as 35 vessels.

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