TOKYO, March 07. /ITAR-TASS/. Japan’s government would like to continue developing relations with Russia in defense and security "if the relations between the Russian Federation and the US are restored," Japan’s Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said on Friday.

“If the relations between the US and Russia are restored, we would like to develop, like previously, the relations with the Russian Federation in the defense sphere,” he said stressing that “this does not mean Japan is introducing any limitations” for relations with Russia, but "being a part of the international community, it would like to see the development of the situation” in Ukraine.

On November 2, 2013, the first ever two-plus-two meeting of foreign and defense ministers of the two countries was held in Tokyo. During the meeting, the delegations discussed development of defense cooperation between Japan and Russia.