Japan Quotes by Vladimir Putin

I assure you that interest in Japanese culture in Russia is just as strong as interest in Russian culture in Japan.

— Vladimir Putin

We want full-scale normalisation of relations [with Japan].

— Vladimir Putin

I was told that [Japan journalists] wanted to see my dog, Yume. You can see that she is in great shape.

— Vladimir Putin

I believe it is no secret that I like Japan very much - Japanese culture, sport, including judo, but it will not…

— Vladimir Putin

It is 60 years since the restoration of diplomatic relations, but relations between Japan and Russia have much deeper roots. In all,…

— Vladimir Putin

Japan announced that it would not comply with this declaration [ 1956]. Later on, the Soviet Union also declared that the declaration…

— Vladimir Putin

We are natural partners [with Japan] in the world and the Far East, but the absence of a peace treaty does not…

— Vladimir Putin

There is always a chance [for negotiations with Japan], or else it makes no sense to talk. How great is it? Right…

— Vladimir Putin

It has nothing to do with any kind of exchange or sale [of Kuril island to Japan]. It is about the search…

— Vladimir Putin

However, personally, I see this as not having the right to abuse this trust [among the citizens of Russia and Japan], and…

— Vladimir Putin

Next year [2017], we are going to hold a series of events there that we would like to call Russian Seasons [in…

— Vladimir Putin

There are also other areas. For example, culture. This is extremely important. We keep revisiting sport, judo, because I practice it, but…

— Vladimir Putin

As regards humanitarian issues and how to handle them, that was the Prime Minister's [Shinzō Abe] initiative. He brought the matter up…

— Vladimir Putin

Everything that we [with Shindzo Abe] are talking about has come to us as a result of the events of 70 years…

— Vladimir Putin

I like other sports, too, including skiing and swimming, and I am learning to play ice hockey now. But judo is definitely…

— Vladimir Putin

I do not want to speak about our cooperation with Japan now. Thank God, we have had no such problems there. Nor…

— Vladimir Putin

Irrespective of when this may happen, it would not be an exaggeration to say that today millions of people living in Russia…

— Vladimir Putin

Look, there is parliamentary democracy in most European countries, there is parliamentary democracy in Japan, there is parliamentary democracy in many countries,…

— Vladimir Putin

If we act together along these lines, we will create conditions, the conditions for trust that Shinzō Abe speaks about, so as…

— Vladimir Putin

However, there is a fundamental difference between the issue related to Japan's history and our negotiations with China. What is it all…

— Vladimir Putin

I remember my very first encounter with Japan. At that time, I was Deputy Mayor of St Petersburg. Out of nowhere, Japan's…

— Vladimir Putin

There is progress in the sense that the Prime Minister [Shinzō Abe] has proposed, outlined, as it were, directions for movement toward…

— Vladimir Putin

You recalled the 1956 declaration, and this declaration established the rules that should be followed by both sides and that should be…

— Vladimir Putin

We were in negotiations, but then the Japanese side suspended them unilaterally. Now, at the request of our Japanese partners, we have…

— Vladimir Putin

Therefore, I do not think we should go only 60 years back but should look deeper, centuries back. Maybe this will give…

— Vladimir Putin

The last time I was in Japan as President of Russia was 11 years ago, if memory serves. I later visited in…

— Vladimir Putin

The absence of a peace treaty [with Japan] is an anachronism we inherited from the past and it must be removed. However,…

— Vladimir Putin

At some point a few years ago Japan unilaterally stopped those talks and broke off contacts with us. It was not we…

— Vladimir Putin

The Prime Minister [Shinzō Abe] also highlighted the need to address general humanitarian issues. We already mentioned one of these issues: visa-free…

— Vladimir Putin

However, the 1956 agreement refers to two islands while the Prime Minister [Shindzo Abe] is talking about four islands.

— Vladimir Putin

At the request of our Japanese partners, we have reopened these talks [about territories]. What command is given in this case in…

— Vladimir Putin

By the way, Japan is also known to be actively engaged in manned space flights as part of the International Space Station.

— Vladimir Putin

[Yasuhiro] Yamashita is a respected judo master not only in Japan but across the world. To me, he is an example of…

— Vladimir Putin

I would like to inform you with great satisfaction of a new step forward on establishing partnership between Russia and Japan

— Vladimir Putin

If we do it, if we work to achieve all this [cultural exchange with Japan], we can and should talk about joint…

— Vladimir Putin

Japan has joined the sanctions against the Russian Federation. How are we going to further economic relations on a new and much…

— Vladimir Putin

We do not trade territories although concluding a peace treaty with Japan is certainly a key issue and we would like to…

— Vladimir Putin

The Prime Minister [Shindzo Abe] and I will negotiate proceeding from our national interests: the interests of Russia and the interests of…

— Vladimir Putin

At the request of my Japanese colleagues, in 2000 we revisited the possibility of signing a peace treaty based on the 1956 agreement.

— Vladimir Putin

I have a huge interest in Japan, which is well known, including its history and culture, and so it will be very…

— Vladimir Putin