Ukraine crisis: Japanese PM urges Putin to seek ‘acceptable’ diplomatic solution

Name: China’s Xi Jinping 'paying close attention' to Russia-Ukraine crisis
Uploaded: 2022-02-17T16:27:04.000Z
Duration: 2 min 25 s
Description: China’s Xi Jinping 'paying close attention' to Russia-Ukraine crisis

In a 25-minute phone call with Putin, Fumio Kishida opposed the use of force to change the status quo in Ukraine; two leaders agreed to continue dialogue

Meanwhile, Tokyo and Moscow remain at loggerheads over the ownership of a group of Russian-held islets off Hokkaido

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Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke to Russia’s Putin. Photo: Reuters

Kyodo

Published: 12:27am, 18 Feb 2022Updated: 1:40pm, 9 Mar 2022

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to find a diplomatic solution that is “acceptable” to the countries concerned amid concern that Russia may invade neighbouring Ukraine.

Kishida told reporters after the 25-minute teleconference with Putin that Japan opposes the use of force to change the status quo and will continue to monitor Ukraine-Russia situation with “grave concern.”

The two leaders agreed to continue dialogue over the crisis in the Eastern European country.

Their first conversation on Ukraine crisis took place as the United States and major European nations, such as France and Germany, have been stepping up diplomacy to avert a further escalation of the situation.

02:25

China’s Xi Jinping 'paying close attention' to Russia-Ukraine crisis

Kishida vowed that Japan, which initiated the phone talks, “will continue tenacious diplomatic efforts toward easing tensions.” Putin told Kishida on the phone that Russia has no intention of invading Ukraine, a Japanese government official said.

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