MOSCOW, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, that Tokyo must abandon its unfriendly policy towards Moscow to resume full‑fledged bilateral dialogue. The two foreign ministers met at the request of the Japanese side on the sidelines of a Group of 20 foreign ministers’ meeting in Atlanta, United States.
Lavrov’s appeal comes as Japan has joined Western sanctions against Russia and stepped up criticism of Moscow since the outbreak of the Russia‑Ukraine conflict in February 2022. The ministry said that “resumption of full‑fledged interstate dialogue requires Tokyo to give up unfriendly policies.” (NHK World)
In a statement, the Russian side reiterated that the resumption of dialogue depends on Japan’s willingness to reverse its hostile stance. Reuters reported that the Russian Foreign Office emphasized the same point, stressing that a full‑scale conversation would only be possible if Tokyo agreed to shelve its unfriendly policies.
The last formal meeting between Lavrov and Motegi had taken place in September 2021 on the sidelines of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. According to Xinhua, this is the first official encounter between the two officials since then.
Japan’s participation in the sanctions regime has intensified after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting Moscow to seek new channels of dialogue to mitigate international pressure. Lavrov argued that such a dialogue could help de‑escalate tensions, although no concrete framework has been presented.
Both ministers acknowledged that the issue remains contentious, with Japan maintaining its policy of support for Ukraine. Lavrov’s request signals Moscow’s desire to broaden diplomatic contacts beyond the current sanctions framework.
The meeting’s timing coincides with the G‑20 gathering, where several foreign ministers are discussing post‑pandemic recovery and global security. Japan’s foreign minister, acknowledging the request, indicated a willingness to discuss the issue further while retaining its stance against the war.
That Japan and Russia have not met formally in five years underscores the significance of this outreach. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s call for dialogue receives mixed reactions in Tokyo, where diplomats balance new engagement with existing alliances with NATO and the United States.
