Japan emphasizes the importance of energy cooperation with Russia and maintains its presence in oil and gas projects on Russian territory, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an interview with TASS.

In this regard, the diplomat questioned the reasons behind the US’ endless attempts to “reprimand or even pressure China and India” for their cooperation with Russia, even though these and many other countries have observed that Washington “allows Japan to develop energy cooperation with Russia.”