Lavrov urges Japan to abandon unfriendly policy to resume full-fledged dialogue with Russia

MOSCOW, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, on Friday that Tokyo needs to abandon its unfriendly policy toward Moscow to resume full-fledged bilateral dialogue, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during his annual press conference in Moscow, Russia, on Jan. 14, 2025. (File photo: Xinhua)

The two foreign ministers met at the request of the Japanese side on the sidelines of a Group of 20 foreign ministers' meeting in Atlanta, the United States.

Japan has joined Western sanctions against Russia and stepped up criticism of Moscow since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022.

The last formal meeting between Lavrov and Motegi took place in September 2021 on the sidelines of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.