Overview
- Kyodo, citing unnamed sources, reported that the government aims to send an economic mission to Russia as early as May.
- Government outreach reportedly targeted Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Itochu, Sumitomo, Marubeni, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which runs icebreaking LNG tankers.
- Discussions would center on energy procurement, including possible buys of Russian crude as concerns grow over Middle East supply risks.
- One trading-house official warned the trip could draw criticism because sanctions remain in force and the war in Ukraine continues.
- Japan still receives LNG from Russia’s Sakhalin-2 under a U.S. sanctions exemption, with stakes in the project held by Mitsubishi and Mitsui, while companies such as Toyota and Nissan previously scaled back in Russia.