Russia, Japan should not look for ‘red lines’ in peace treaty issues — Putin

HANGZHOU, September 5. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday called on Japan not to look for "red lines" in the process of the peace treaty negotiations.

"Let us not look for ‘red lines’, let us not get deadlocked but walk along the streets opening traffic to different sides, to both sides," Putin said. 

The Russian president added that he maintained close contacts with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and praised his proposals on the implementation of the eight-point plan of bilateral cooperation. 

President Vladimir Putin sees creating favorable conditions as vitally important for the signing of a peace treaty with Japan.

"Creating favorable conditions is extremely important for the settlement of any issues, including for the signing of a peace treaty," President Putin said at a news conference after the G20 summit in China.

Japan has special relations with the US, adjusting its foreign policy to a great extent to the opinion of its main strategic partner, Putin said.

"Restrictions in our contacts were connected with this as well," Putin added. "It was strange for us, as Japan seems to be interested in developing a dialog, especially on a peace treaty and on the settlement of other issues connected with this," he went on.

"But these contacts were practically stopped at the initiative of Japan," he said, stating, however, that the sides have returned to the negotiations table.

Putin reminded the audience about the past in relations with China on border issues. "We were engaged with China in negotiations on border issues for 40 years, and we managed to settle them. And on which basis? On the basis of a very high level of mutual trust and cooperation we had achieved by the moment of signing these agreements," he added.