Peace Treaty Could be on the Japanese Menu During PM Abe's Visit to Russia

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could visit the seaside Russian city of Sochi on May 6, local media reported Wednesday, citing diplomatic sources.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In February, Alexei Pushkov, head of the Russian State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, confirmed that Moscow was expecting a visit from Abe in April or May.

According to the newspaper Izvestiya, Abe is likely to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the visit. The two leaders are likely to discuss signing a peace treaty, bilateral relations and issues on the international agenda.

Prime Minister Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly reached an agreement on the Japanese leader’s visit to Russia in a phone conversation in January. Due to the informal nature of the visit, no documents will be signed between the sides.

The Kuril Islands are the subject of a long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Japan lays claims to Kunashiri, Etorofu, and Shikotan island as well as the Habomai group of islets dividing the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. The territorial dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty since the end of World War II.