President Putin holds Japan responsible for deteriorating relations with Japan and asks for cooperation

At the Valdai Conference held in Moscow on the 1st, bringing together Russian experts from both Japan and abroad, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated regarding relations with Japan, ``There has been no change in Russia's approach since two years ago, and what has changed is Japan's attitude,'' asserting that Japan is unilaterally responsible for the deterioration. He also stated that he was interested in cooperation, and expressed the view that future improvements could be made depending on Japan's response.

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He answered questions from Taisuke Hakuba, a senior researcher at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation. At the same conference two years ago, Putin said, ``We are ready to build relations with Japan for the next five years and the next 50 years.'' When Mr. Biru expressed his opinion based on this, Mr. Putin emphasized, ``We were not the ones who introduced sanctions.'' He once again criticized Japan's sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

Considering Japan's protests against his visit to the Northern Territories, he reacted by saying, ``I have heard quite strong statements from some Japanese leaders.'' On the other hand, he said that Japan and Russia "have areas of mutual benefit," and he also advanced his theory that after the current "difficulties" are overcome, the relationship between the two countries will become "good-neighborly and mutually beneficial." He pointed out that for this to happen, Japan needs to show a "cooperative attitude."