TOKYO, Reuters – Japan will block certain Russian banks from accessing the SWIFT international payments system. This was announced by Prime Minister Fumio Kishhida on Sunday.

Kishida said that Tokyo would place sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as extend $100 million to Kyiv in humanitarian relief.

Kishida stated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine was a unilateral effort to alter the status quo, and it shakes the core international order.

“We need to remain united and act resolutely.”

SWIFT, a secure messaging platform that allows for rapid cross-border transactions to facilitate international trade flows and transfer trillions of dollars annually. It has been the main mechanism used for international trade financing.

The U.S., its allies and Kishida took the same step Saturday. It was seen as an attempt to impede Russian business and trade.

Rahm Emanuel the U.S. Ambassador to Japan was very happy to accept Japan’s new sanctions measure.

He stated in writing that the United States looked forward to working closely with Japan to execute these measures, and taking further steps with G7 and other like-minded partners to inflict costs on President Putin’s reckless decision to launch war in Ukraine.