Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled on Sunday that Japan and Russia are unlikely to sign a peace treaty any time soon, saying a breakthrough in the two nations' long-standing dispute over several islands requires overall progress in bilateral relations.
Speaking in an interview with Kyodo News and another Japanese news organizations, Putin also made clear that Russia plans to play a more active role in bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula and in helping to ease tensions between North and South Korea even further.
Putin made the remarks in a written interview before embarking on a trip to Japan for the July 21-23 Group of Eight summit in Okinawa Prefecture. He will also visit China and North Korea.
Putin, who will be making his first trip to Asia since taking office in May, said Moscow views Japan as an important partner.