Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida is likely to postpone a visit to Russia planned for April, government sources, said Japanese news agency Jiji reported Tuesday, as Tokyo's ties with Moscow grow chilly after Russia's seizure of Crimea.
An official at the Russian section of Japan's Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the news.
This comes a day after leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations, including Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, suspended Russia's participation in the Group of Eight, warning Moscow that it faced economic sanctions if President Vladimir Putin takes further action to destabilise Ukraine.
Abe has made better ties between Tokyo and Moscow a priority since returning to power 15 months ago and has met Putin five times, despite a territorial dispute dating from World War II.
But following Russia's annexation of Crimea, Japan has sided with the U.S. and its G7 allies.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
