Australia and Japan announced Wednesday they will be imposing sanctions on Russia over its recent actions in Ukraine, joining a growing team of countries doing so. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday announced that Russia now regards two areas in Ukraine’s Donbas regions—Luhansk and Donetsk—as independent, and subsequently signed a decree authorizing Russian troops to be sent into the area for “peacekeeping operations.” Russia’s parliament on Tuesday approved treaties with Donetsk and Luhansk that effectively create a “legal basis” to have Russian troops in the areas. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday that Japan’s sanctions will include prohibiting the issuance of Russian bonds in Japan and freezing assets of certain Russian nationals. Kishida said that Russia acted to violate Ukraine’s sovereignty and asked Moscow to engage in diplomatic talks. Kishida added that Japan was prepared to take further actions if the situation further deteriorates. Japan relies Russia for some of its energy …