The meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the widow of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Akie Abe, can be perceived as a "sign to improve relations between Moscow and Tokyo. This assumption is made by the Kyodo agency.
According to the publication, Professor Michitaka Hattori, a specialist in Russia from Hokkaido University, believes that the Japanese authorities were aware of Akie Abe's upcoming trip, but did not actively support her. In an interview with the Asahi newspaper, he suggested that the Japanese side could send an interpreter to collect information.
During the meeting with Akie Abe, which took place in Moscow on May 29, Vladimir Putin stressed that her husband sincerely sought to fully restore Russian-Japanese relations and made significant efforts to achieve this goal. According to the president, Russia remembers Shinzo Abe's contribution to the development of cooperation between the countries.
Abe's widow told the Russian leader that her husband hoped to meet with him even after the start of a special military operation on Ukraine. She expressed hope for further development of cultural and humanitarian ties between Russia and Japan.
During the period when Shinzo Abe served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2012 to 2020, relations with Russia were actively strengthened. Warm relations have been established between him and Vladimir Putin, with whom they held 27 meetings and even switched to informal communication.
Japanese Government Secretary General Yoshimasa Hayashi said earlier that the Cabinet of Ministers had not been in contact with Akie Abe about her visit to Russia and does not comment on her meeting with President Putin.