During a phone briefing, the US Deputy Energy Secretary, David Turk, stated that Japan purchased oil from Russia at a price that exceeded the G7 price cap, with the approval of the United States and other Western partners. The report cited is from TASS.
Turk added that in discussions about the ceiling price and related efforts, certain agreements have been reached to help Japan manage its own energy security. He suggested that Japan would have access to some favorable opportunities as part of these arrangements, noting that the measures are designed to support independent energy management rather than undermine shared goals.
He emphasized that Japan’s actions in not strictly adhering to the price limit for Russian oil do not constitute a breach of the applicable agreements, framing the situation as a matter of interpretation within the broader framework of the policy and its enforcement goals.
Earlier reports from The Wall Street Journal asserted that Japan violated the ceiling on Russian oil prices set by the G7. The publication claimed that such violations were enabled by exemptions granted to Japanese companies by the United States, allowing continued access under the cap. Attribution for these claims remains a topic of discussion among policymakers and analysts seeking to reconcile energy needs with sanctions regimes. [citation: TASS] [citation: Wall Street Journal]