Japan and Russia Foreign Ministers Meet for First Time Since 2022; Tokyo Maintains Sanctions, Safeguards
On July 21, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a brief exchange on the sidelines of an ASEAN dinner in the Philippines, marking their first contact since February 2022. Japan continues its sanctions on Russia but stresses the importance of intergovernmental dialogue. Tokyo has also sent officials to Russia to safeguard its interests in the Sakhalin-2 energy project, and is resuming short-term student exchanges as part of broader efforts to restore people-to-people ties.
Japan is gradually advancing its engagement with Russia. On July 21, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi had a brief exchange with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a dinner on the sidelines of an ASEAN-related foreign ministers' meeting in the Philippines. The two discussed bilateral relations and the regional situation. This was the first contact between the two foreign ministers since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale military operation against Ukraine.
Beyond the high-level contact, several new developments have emerged between Japan and Russia. Tokyo has reiterated its intention to continue sanctions on Russia while emphasizing the need for intergovernmental communication. In addition, Japan has dispatched officials to Russia to protect its interests in the Sakhalin-2 energy project. Furthermore, Japan has taken steps to resume personnel exchanges, including restarting a short-term student dispatch program.