Japan to lend to sanctioned Russian bank to push island talks
TOKYO - State-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation will lend about 4 billion yen ($39 million) to Russia@@@s Sberbank, which is subject to Western sanctions, in the hope of advancing talks on a territorial dispute, the Nikkei business daily said on Saturday.Sberbank, Russia@@@s biggest bank, will use the yen-denominated loan to help a company operating the port of Vostochny in the Russian Far East to buy coal-handling equipment.JBIC will issue the loan by the end of the year in a bid to encourage progress on a dispute over a string of Russia-controlled Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kuriles in Russia, at a December summit."JBIC@@@s move to provide financing to Russia comes because the Japanese government aims to make progress in the negotiations," the Nikkei said.JBIC was not available for comment.ByREUTERS06/08/2025 07:57 AMByREUTERS06/08/2025 05:36 AMByMAARIV06/07/2025 02:33 PMByWALLA!06/07/2025 11:18 AMByREUTERS06/07/2025 03:25 AM