Japan-Russia Relations
Japan-Russia Summit Meeting
October 17, 2014
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On Friday, October 17, commencing at shortly after 9:50 a.m. for approximately 10 minutes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting with Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, President of the Russian Federation, at the conference room of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) 10 Summit Meeting, in Milan, Italy.
1. Japan-Russia relations
- (1) At the beginning Prime Minister Abe said that he was glad to directly talk with President Putin for the first time in eight months since the Sochi Olympic Games, and that he attached importance to continuing political dialogue between Japan and Russia even under the difficult circumstances. President Putin also shared the view that political dialogue was important.
- (2) Prime Minister Abe suggested holding a summit meeting with enough time on the margins of the APEC meeting in Beijing in order to exchange views on overall Japan-Russia relations and the international situation, and President Putin replied that he would definitely have the meeting there.
2. Situation in the Middle East
Prime Minister Abe said that ISIL posed a serious threat to the whole international order. He expressed that Japan supported the counter terrorism efforts and would provide its utmost assistance in a non-military manner, and expressed hope toward Russia’s role. President Putin listened and nodded in response.
3. Situation in Ukraine
Prime Minister Abe said he expected that President Putin would take the lead in ensuring the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. In response, President Putin explained that overall, the process related to the situation in Ukraine was slowly moving forward, and that he recognized there were still some differences in positions among the related players.