Abe and Putin are set to Meet on the 22nd to produce a settlement to island issues in Northern Japan.
eace treaty negotiations between Japan and Russia, including on the issue of the Russian-held islands that Japan claims have long been in a state of deadlock.
Last November, the leaders of the two countries met in Singapore and agreed to speed up talks based on the Joint Declaration in 1956. The agreement states that the islands of Habomai and Shikotan are to be handed over to Japan upon the conclusion of a peace treaty between the two countries. Japan says there is no change to its stance of resolving the issue of sovereignty over the islands, which it refers to as the Northern Territories, and signing a peace treaty.
Abe will meet Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. Japan will hope they agree on the start of a drafting process for a peace treaty. Tokyo also wants the leaders to reach a broad consensus when they meet again on the sidelines of June's G20 summit in Osaka.
But things aren't expected to go smoothly. The Russian government's remarks indicate a desire to keep Japan in check. Objection is also growing among the public in Russia about the possible handover of the islands. It remains to be seen how the negotiations will proceed.