Photo: EPA
The foreign ministers of Russia and Japan held their first talks in five years in Atlanta on October 30, with Tokyo urging Moscow to take constructive steps toward achieving peace in Ukraine.
The meeting was confirmed by the foreign ministries of both countries. According to Anadolu Agency, the talks were initiated by Japan and lasted around 30 minutes.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi raised the case of a Japanese citizen detained in Russia’s Sakhalin region. He also called on Moscow to take constructive action to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the two sides had agreed to maintain diplomatic channels despite deteriorating relations between the countries, partly due to sanctions imposed on Russia by Japan.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Japan has become one of Kyiv’s most important partners in Asia.
For Tokyo, the outcome of the war matters not only for European security. Japanese officials are concerned that concessions to Russia and the acceptance of territorial gains achieved through aggression could set a dangerous precedent for other regions.
