MOSCOW, September 4 (RIA Novosti) - Tokyo appreciates Russia's actions taken toward the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine and hopes for more steps to be taken by the country, Japan's foreign minister said Thursday.
“We highly appreciate the fact that certain measures on a ceasefire have been taken, and we will pay close attention to the developments. We eagerly hope that the parties will keep on working for the early war termination. Mostly, we insist that Russia take meaningful measures aiming at peaceful settlement,” Fumio Kishida, Japan’s foreign minister, said at the government's first press conference since it was formed Wednesday.
The minister also noted that the position of Japan will depend on the decisions that will be taken at the NATO summit, which will start Thursday, and the stance of its partners from the Group of Seven leading industrial nations.
Russia, however, does not view itself as a party to the conflict in Ukraine and has repeatedly rejected allegations of its interference in the conflict between Ukrainian militants and the country's security officials.
Russian President Vladimir Putin outlined a seven-point plan to stabilize the situation in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday and expressed hope that a final agreement between Kiev and the country's militants would be reached at the coming meeting of the so-called Contact Group on September 5.
