“Japan imposed sanctions and closed the window for dialogue… “Conversation is a good thing”
Japanese media: “Putin suggests the need to suspend sanctions as a condition for dialogue”
Regarding the resumption of dialogue with Japan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on the 5th (local time), “If there is an offer from (Japan), which closed (dialogue), I am willing to accept it.”
According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK and Jiji News Agency, President Putin was asked a question about Russo-Japanese relations at the plenary session of the Valdai International Debate Club, an international gathering of Russian experts held in Sochi, southern Russia, and responded, “We did not impose sanctions on Japan. ) The window is not closed. Japan did it. “It is good that dialogue is taking place,” he said.
Regarding this, Jiji News analyzed that President Putin “indicated his recognition that in order to normalize relations (with Japan), it is necessary for Japan to take concrete actions, such as suspending sanctions against Russia.”
This appears to be the first time that President Putin has directly mentioned Russia-Japan relations publicly since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year.
President Putin said, “(The Japanese side) said, ‘The time has come when dialogue has meaning. “If you think it is possible to take the initiative (between Russia and Japan), dialogue is a very good thing,” he said.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Japan, along with the United States and Europe, has led sanctions against Russia. President Putin has continued to criticize this.
Of course, relations between Russia and Japan deteriorated.
Last June, Russia banned Japanese fishing boats from fishing near the Kuril Islands (Japanese name: Northern Territory), an area of territorial dispute with Japan. Implementation of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Marine Living Resources Fishing (hereinafter referred to as the Safe Fishing Agreement) concluded in 1998 has been temporarily suspended.
Russia also has a negative stance on discharging contaminated water from Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (treated water as the name of the Japanese government) into the ocean.
Russia is conducting an investigation by forming a dedicated organization to evaluate the impact of discharge of contaminated water into the ocean on land, sea, and air. The Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS) in Vladivostok said, “Monitoring has begun in the Primorsky Krai,” and “We will proceed with monitoring programs in various fields until November 1.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.