VLADIVOSTOK, Russia -- Russian President Vladimir Putin aired concerns Thursday that Tokyo's defense pact with Washington would create obstacles in the ongoing negotiations toward a formal peace treaty between his country and Japan.
"There are military, defense issues and security issues," Putin said of those challenges, following with a reference to the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. "And here we must take into account the position of third countries and Japan's obligations to them, including the United States."
