Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on the sidelines of a Group of 20 foreign‑minister meeting in Atlanta on Friday and asked Tokyo to abandon its hostile stance toward Moscow, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Lavrov said Japan had to move beyond a policy that the Russian government considers “unfriendly” in order to revive full‑scale dialogue between the two countries.
Japan, which has joined Western sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine, has stepped up criticism of Moscow since the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022. The call comes after a long‑standing diplomatic stalemate, with the last formal meeting between Lavrov and Motegi taking place in September 2021 on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Foreign Ministry noted that Lavrov’s invitation reflects Moscow’s desire to reset relations and engage with partners in East Asia. Motegi, who requested the meeting, acknowledged Japan’s position but said the country remains committed to the sanctions framework and its support for Ukraine.
Both sides have emphasized the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels. Lavrov’s remarks are seen by some analysts as an attempt to lower tensions, while others view it as a diplomatic gesture that does not yet alter Japan’s policy stance toward sanctions and aid for Ukraine.