Atlanta:Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met in Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss bilateral relations. The meeting took place on the sidelines of a G20 foreign ministers' meeting, initiated at the request of the Japanese side.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, the Russian side emphasized that a complete resumption of interstate dialogue would necessitate Japan abandoning its 'unfriendly course.'

Bilateral relations between Russia and Japan have deteriorated, particularly since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. Japan has joined Western allies in imposing sanctions on Russia, further straining ties that have been historically complicated by a territorial dispute.

The territorial conflict dates back to the aftermath of World War II when Japan and Russia normalized relations in a 1956 accord. However, they have yet to sign a peace treaty due to the ongoing dispute over the islands of Shikotan and the Habomai, which Japan calls the Northern Territories and Russia refers to as the Southern Kurils.

Japan maintains that these islands were illegally seized by the USSR following Japan's surrender in World War II, while Russia argues the seizure was legitimate. Tensions have intensified over these issues and the sanctions imposed by Japan, hindering diplomatic progress between the two nations.