MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin is to visit Japan December 15-16.
"The president voiced the political will to develop our relations in all possible areas, thus creating a firm basis that will allow us to reach the solution of this difficult problem, in his interview [with Japanese media]," Peskov told reporters.
Japan lays claims to Russia's Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets. Tokyo's stance has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty after World War II.