A government official said Wednesday that Japan would find it difficult to swiftly implement a proposal to halt Russian oil supplies in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

The remark came during a visit to Washington by Koichi Hagiuda, Japan’s minister of economy, commerce, and industry; after the European Union’s executive recommended the strongest package of penalties against Moscow yet, including a crude oil embargo.

“Given Japan’s resource constraints, we would have some difficulties keeping up with other countries right once,” Hagiuda told reporters.

On the same day, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that he could not accept Moscow’s decision to bar him and 62 other Japanese citizens from entering the country; and that Russia carried sole responsibility for the current state of bilateral relations.

Earlier this month, Russia’s foreign ministry slapped penalties against 63 Japanese officials; also journalists, and lecturers for using “unacceptable rhetoric” against Moscow.

After Japan placed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin and other political and corporate elites, the decision was made.