Japan’s Shinzo Abe hits back at critics of his talks with Russia’s Putin

In a speech in Tokyo, Abe said he found it “profoundly moving” that he and Putin took “an important step” toward the resolution of the row and the signing of a long-delayed post-second world war peace treaty with Russia.

During their two-day summit in Japan on Thursday and Friday, the leaders failed to overcome differences over the sovereignty of the chain of islands off Hokkaido that are claimed by Japan.

Abe defended the progress the two did make, including an agreement to consider “internationally unprecedented” joint economic activities on the islands under a system that compromises neither country’s legal stance on their ownership.

“If [the joint activities are] realised, Japanese people could make many visits to the islands and live there, and with trust, we can make the islands [a place of] coexistence rather than of confrontation,” Abe said.