Ukraine war

Japan's national oil reserves at a storage facility in Kagoshima Prefecture. The country held 146 days' worth as of the end of December.
Ukraine war

Japan weighs joining U.S. to tap oil reserves as crude tops $100

IEA to start talks with Tokyo, Washington and London for coordinated release

25 February 2022
Vladimir Putin, pictured in Moscow on Feb. 23: the Russian President's biggest fear is not so much an expansion of the NATO alliance to Ukraine but democracy on his doorstep.
Opinion

Vladimir Putin stakes it all on Ukraine

Russian leader driven by his belief in the narrative of Western decline

25 February 2022
A military vehicle on the outskirts of the city of Donetsk on Feb. 23.
Ukraine war

Major Twitter accounts reporting on Ukraine blocked

Social media company blames 'human error' but others suspect Russian involvement

24 February 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden said Thursday that the world will hold Russia accountable for an "unprovoked and unjustified" attack on Ukraine, after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation in the country.  (Nikkei montage/Maxim Guchek/BelTA/Reuters)
Ukraine war

Markets sink as U.S., Asia allies blast Russia invasion of Ukraine

Stock markets tumble, while oil hits $100; China says it isn't an 'invasion'

24 February 2022
Vladimir Putin speaks about authorizing a special military operation in Ukraine's Donbass region during a special televised address on Feb. 24: it is possible to see the Ukraine crisis creating an uptick in U.S.-China relations.
Opinion

Ukraine conflict will have a significant impact on Asia

Look for the crisis to consolidate alignment among Asia's democracies

24 February 2022
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the U.K.'s secretary for international trade, speaks with Nikkei on Feb. 24.
Interview

U.K. eyes 'high-tech areas' to penalize Russia over Ukraine

Trade secretary Trevelyan sees energy export 'chance' after Nord Stream 2 halted

24 February 2022
The Moscow International Business Center. Most Russian businesses will see little impact from the initial round of U.S. sanctions.
Ukraine war

First U.S. sanctions take narrow aim at Russian finance

Nord Stream 2 operator also targeted, but energy sector mostly spared for now

24 February 2022
Bellingcat thinks the vehicle in the video is a BTR-70M armored troop carrier. Ukraine's military does not operate the BTR-70M. (Screen capture from video)
Ukraine war

Videos of Ukrainian 'attacks' could be pro-Russia fake news: analysis

Metadata and details in footage hint at false flag operation

23 February 2022
"Russia has now undeniably moved against Ukraine by declaring these independent states," U.S. President Joe Biden said on Feb. 22. 
Ukraine war

Transcript: Biden announces sanctions on Russia

'We have our next move prepared as well,' U.S. president says

23 February 2022
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announces the imposition of sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, at his residence in Tokyo on Feb. 23. (Kyodo via Reuters) 
Ukraine war

Japan to impose sanctions on Russia amid Ukraine crisis: Kishida

Prime minister urges Moscow to return to diplomacy to break impasse

23 February 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden announces sanctions against Russia at the White House.
Ukraine war

Biden unveils sanctions on Russia for 'beginning' Ukraine invasion

U.S. top diplomat cancels meeting with Moscow counterpart Lavrov

23 February 2022
St. Basil's Cathedral, left, and the Spasskaya Tower of the Kremlin, as seen through a gate in central Moscow.
Ukraine war

U.K., EU sanctions hit Russian lawmakers, banks and oligarchs

London stops short of cutting off Moscow's access to capital markets

23 February 2022
Russia and Ukraine export neon and other noble gases used to make semiconductors and related materials. (Photo courtesy of Disco)
Ukraine war

Anticipating retaliation, Japan scrambles to review Russian imports

Tokyo expects Moscow to freeze shipments of energy and chipmaking materials

23 February 2022
Workers are seen at the construction site of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Russia in 2019.
Ukraine war

Russia vows to keep pumping gas as Germany suspends Nord Stream 2

Moscow says Berlin's decision on pipeline will boost prices across Europe

23 February 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized the independence of two breakaway regions of Ukraine.
Ukraine war

Vladimir Putin crosses 'red line' with his Ukraine obsession

Russian leader takes big gamble as next few days crucial

22 February 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 21, in a televised session of the country's National Security Council, said Russia and Ukraine are a "people bound by blood, by family ties."
Ukraine war

U.S. and U.K. to impose sanctions against Russia over Ukraine

Washington warns 'fence-sitters'; China calls for restraint at U.N. Security Council

22 February 2022
Ukrainian soldiers say that they have been on duty virtually 24/7 for months, but that recent weeks have brought a noticeable escalation for front-line forces. (Photo by Giannis Seferiadis)
Ukraine war

'I'm afraid but where can I go?' East Ukraine confronts new reality

Eight years of conflict numb some residents' fears as Putin ups the ante

22 February 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers an address to the nation in Moscow on Feb. 21. (Kremlin via Reuters)
Ukraine war

Putin orders troops to east Ukraine, recognizes breakaway regions

U.S. to block investment, trade with Luhansk and Donetsk

22 February 2022
A view of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Japan's benchmark index closed lower on Feb. 21 as investors worried about the situation surrounding Ukraine.
Markets

Nikkei index closes down over fears Russia may invade Ukraine

Japanese benchmark recovers some losses as efforts ramp up to prevent conflict

21 February 2022
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, met in 2014 with Fumio Kishida, then Japan's foreign minister.
International relations

Japan and India eye March summit to talk Quad and Ukraine

Kishida aims to coordinate with Modi on Russia as tensions mount

21 February 2022
A satellite image shows a Russian helicopter deployment at Donuzlav Lake in Crimea. Satellite image ©2022 Maxar Technologies
Ukraine war

Ukraine crisis: Satellite images show military buildup near borders

S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile systems deployed in Belarus

20 February 2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin watches joint exercises by the armed forces of Russia and Belarus in September 2021.
Comment

Ukraine crisis creates new security risks in Asia

Tensions rise over military buildup in Russian Far East

19 February 2022
First German-led NATO battle group reinforcement military vehicles arrive at Rukla military base in Lithuania on Feb 17: Putin's intimidation of Ukraine has given the alliance a new sense of purpose.
Opinion

What the Ukraine crisis means for Europe

EU remains fundamentally divided over how to deal with Vladimir Putin

19 February 2022
Heads of delegation prepare for a meeting in Jakarta on Feb. 18, the final day of the gathering of G-20 finance ministers and central bank governors.
19 February 2022
Liquefied natural gas storage tanks and a tanker at a Tokyo Electric Power power plant in Futtsu, near Tokyo.
Energy

U.S. LNG capacity to jump 20% as Europe shifts away from Russia

Country set to become top exporter of the fuel this year

19 February 2022