Japan has 'grave anxiety' over Russia's Ukraine move

TOKYO - Japan joined the United States and its other allies Monday in criticising Moscow's decision to send troops into Ukraine, the foreign ministry said.

The decision by Russia Saturday "on the authority for use of the armed forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine heightens the tension in the region and would harm the peace and stability of the international community," it said.

"In this regard, Japan expresses grave anxiety and concern over the decision," it said.

On Sunday, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius held telephone talks and agreed to closely cooperate on the situation in Ukraine, the foreign ministry has said.

On Monday it said "Japan strongly expects that the situation in Ukraine will be settled in a peaceful manner and strongly urges all the parties concerned to behave with maximum self-restraint and responsibility, to fully observe the relevant international laws."