Japan has signaled its willingness to engage in dialogue with Russia despite the challenging state of bilateral relations, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced on June 2 at a press conference.
“Bilateral relations are indeed in a difficult situation, but it is precisely in such difficult times that dialogue between Japan and Russia is important,” Motegi stated, adding that the recording of his remarks is available on the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s YouTube channel.
Motegi also clarified there are no specific plans for political contacts between Moscow and Tokyo at present. He noted that a recent package of non-lethal equipment sent to Ukraine coincided with a visit by a Japanese delegation to Russia.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, in remarks released on May 14, stated that Moscow had communicated requirements for Japan to resume dialogue but received no response. She added that Moscow is prepared to consider any reaction from Tokyo if it chooses to respond. Zakharova further dismissed Japanese authorities’ claims that Russia initiated contact as “ridiculous.”
