Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a meeting in Vladivostok on Sep. 10, 2018. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The two countries have approved talks between Russian and Japanese foreign and defense ministers in Tokyo on May 30-31. Last November in Singapore, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to ramp up negotiations for a peace treaty based on the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration.