MOSCOW -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov insisted Monday that Tokyo first recognize Moscow's sovereignty over long-disputed islands in the inaugural talks with Japanese counterpart Taro Kono toward negotiating a peace treaty to officially end World War II.
The ministers were seeking progress before a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kono revealed Monday that the summit will be held Jan. 22 in Moscow. The foreign ministers plan to meet next in February on the sidelines of an international conference in Munich.
