The entry ban is "truly regrettable," Iwaya said, adding Japan will maintain interaction with Russia as the two nations, which have not signed a peace treaty due to the territorial dispute since the end of World War II in 1945, face "many matters of concern." Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, Japan has implemented economic sanctions against Russia, such as freezing the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other government officials, in lockstep with the other Group of Seven members. Russia has prohibited numerous Japanese lawmakers from entering the country. In 2022, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his successor Shigeru Ishiba, who took office last October, were put on the list as Cabinet members and House of Representatives lawmakers, respectively.