It was a sudden and surprising statement to Japan because none of alert nor prior contact had been made from the Russian Foreign Ministry to Japan’s MoFA on this new position of Russia.

Earlier in the same plenary session, when PM Abe, who also attended the forum, was asked by the MC about his plan to reach an agreement on the territorial issue with Russia, he answered that the past approaches had not been able to bear a fruit, so the two countries should take such an innovative approach as joint economic activities on the four islands etc.

Later on the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga stated at a press conference that the Japanese government’s position on the issue remains unchanged, namely it pursues to solve the territorial issue first before a peace treaty is concluded with Russia.

President Putin’s sudden statement is interpreted by some media as a kind of check against Japan who is an alliance partner of the U.S. in the context of its recent difficult relationship with the U.S. and U.K.