Sergey Lavrov negotiated with the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry for the first time in five years. The Russian Foreign Minister met with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Mutagi on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Atlanta. The meeting was held at the initiative of Tokyo. Lavrov emphasized that in order to resume a full dialogue between the two countries, Japan needs to abandon its unfriendly ways. The last time ministerial talks were held face to face in September 2021 in New York. In July, Lavrov and Motegi spoke briefly on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila. Then the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry said that they discussed bilateral relations and the situation in the region. Lavrov later denied knowledge of any discussions.

Sergey Lavrov negotiated with the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry for the first time in five years. The Russian Foreign Minister met with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Mutagi on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Atlanta. The meeting was held at the initiative of Tokyo. Lavrov emphasized that in order to resume a full dialogue between the two countries, Japan needs to abandon its unfriendly ways. The last time ministerial talks were held face to face in September 2021 in New York. In July, Lavrov and Motegi spoke briefly on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila. Then the head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry said that they discussed bilateral relations and the situation in the region. Lavrov later denied knowledge of any discussions.