Fearing Sanctions, Japan coudn't take a clear stance between Russia and U.S

Amid the rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, Japan has found itself in a tough situation. Japan depends on Russia for its energy imports. The U.S. has asked Japan to join its alliance against Russia. On the other hand, Russia said that if it joins the western alliance then the supply to the island nation will be disrupted and talks over disputed islands will be terminated. Currently, Russia is conducting a military drill on Islands seized by Soviet Military in 1945. These islands are known as Northern Territories in Japan, Japan has protested against these exercises. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida: said “It’s extremely regrettable that 76 years after the war, the issue of the Northern Territories hasn’t been resolved and a peace treaty between Japan and Russia hasn’t been agreed. I will persevere with talks over the islands”. There has been no peace treaty between both nations since the second world war. Japanese say that until and unless they get back their islands they are not going to get into any kind of treaty. Russia says that  Japan should accept that the islands belong to them. Also, the presence of American Troops in Japan is one of the reasons Russia doesn’t wish to leave these islands.