TOKYO, April 29 (RAPSI) - The Japanese Government has introduced a visa ban for 23 Russian officials in the wake of the situation in Ukraine. The names of the officials have not been revealed.

Last March, Japan suspended talks with Russia on relaxing the visa regime with Russia and started negotiations on two other agreements, which were the softest sanctions by a G7 country.

The European Council, on behalf of the EU, decided to extend the list of Russian officials subject to a second round of sanctions with 15 more names. Currently, the list of affected citizens – whose visas were banned and foreign bank accounts frozen – includes 48 names. For now, the EU is not planning to go further with economic restrictions against Russia, though more sanctions could be imposed if the Ukrainian crisis escalates. Earlier, the US announced an expansion of their sanctions list. It now includes seven Russian officials and 17 Russian companies.

Ukraine underwent a regime change resembling a military coup on February 22. The country’s parliament ousted President Viktor Yanukovych, changed the constitution and scheduled an early presidential election for May 25.

Moscow has repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of these actions and has said that the credibility of the presidential election will depend on a number of variables, including transparency and respect for the interests of all Ukrainian regions.

On April 17 in Geneva, talks took place between Ukraine, Russia, the US and the EU on resolving the crisis in eastern Ukraine, where protests by supporters of federalization had been ongoing since March. The parties agreed on de-escalation measures, to disarm illegal military groups, to vacate illegally seized buildings and to start talks on constitutional reform. Later, the G7 countries accused Russia of not complying with the Geneva agreements and threatened more sanctions. The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed the accusations had no grounds and that Kiev officials had not taken action to start an inclusive constitutional process including all the Ukrainian regions in order to settle the crisis.