Treasury Secretary Bessent says U.S. expects Japan to stop buying Russian energy

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said connected Wednesday (October 15, 2025) that helium told Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato that the Trump Administration expects Japan to halt importing Russian energy.

"Minister Kato and I besides discussed important issues pertaining to the U.S.-Japan economical relationship and the Administration's anticipation that Japan halt importing Russian energy," Mr. Bessent said connected X, aft the 2 met connected Wednesday (October 15).

Mr. Bessent and Mr. Kato met connected the sidelines of the annual International Monetary Fund meeting, and the G7 and G20 concern leaders' gatherings held this week successful Washington.

"Japan volition bash what it tin based connected the basal rule of coordinating with G7 countries to execute bid successful Ukraine successful a just manner," Mr. Kato told reporters erstwhile asked whether Japan was urged to halt importing Russian vigor from Mr. Bessent.

The Group of Seven (G7) nations — the U.S., Japan, Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Italy — agreed earlier this period to coordinate and intensify sanctions against Moscow implicit its warfare successful Ukraine by targeting countries that bargain Russian lipid and thereby alteration sanctions circumvention.