俄國增加對日本天然氣供應

Recently the Yomiuri News reported the following:
東日本大震災に伴う日本の電力不足対策として、ロシアが日本に追加供給する液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）の第１船が１６日朝、千葉県富津(ふっつ)市の東京電力富津火力発電所ＬＮＧ基地に到着した。　大きな半球状のタンク４基を備えた専用運搬船「グランド・アニバ」は、露極東サハリンでＬＮＧ６万５０００トンを積み込み、約１週間かけて東京湾まで輸送した。首都圏の電力需要をまかなうため使用される。　北方領土問題をめぐり日本との関係が険悪化していたロシアだが、震災翌日の３月１２日にはプーチン首相が、ＬＮＧや石油などの供給増を直接指示していた。　手配に当たった露国営企業ガスプロムは、「日本が困難を迎えている今、私たちは求められれば、さらに支援を行う」とするメッセージを寄せた。

(試譯文)
As a measure to cope with the electricity shortage in Japan due to the East Japan great earthquake, Russia supplied additional liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the first ship that carried it arrived at Tokyo Electric Power Company Futtsu thermal power plant LNG base in Chiba Prefecture Futtsu city of Japan on the morning of the 16th. Special vessel "Gurando Aniba" that had four big half ball-shape tanks was loaded with 65,000 tons of LNG in Sakhalin in the Far East, taking a week or so to deliver it to Tokyo Bay. It would be used to meet the power demand in the metropolitan area. Prime Minister Putin directly directed an increase in supply such as LNG and oil on March 12, the day following the earthquake although the issues related to the Northern Territories had worsen Russia's relation with Japan. Russia Government-run corporation the Gazprom that undertook the above arrangements sent the message saying that "Now that Japan is facing difficulties, if it is requested, we would give additional support".

I am trying to figure out why the Russians are so helpful.