TEMPO.CO, Tokyo - Russia's involvement in the Ukraine conflict has apparently caused repercussions. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has dropped his plans to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin in Japan this year due to friction after Tokyo imposed sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis.
The Russian leader's visit to Japan was planned for "this autumn" but Washington had asked Tokyo to postpone it, Kyodo News reported, quoting Japanese government sources. The request was agreed by Tokyo as they see that it is important to keep in step with the West as it has joined the United States and Europe in putting pressure on Russia with sanctions over the Ukraine crisis.
The Sankei Shimbun newspaper also said his visit to Japan was likely to be delayed until early next year at the earliest.
Abe and Putin, however, still hope to hold talks during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum's summit in Beijing in November. "Our goal has shifted from Mr. Putin's visit to Japan to holding a summit on the occasion of the APEC forum," one of the sources said, according to Kyodo.
Putin's presence in the G-20 Summit in Brisbane, Australia this November is still being debated over. Australia asked that Putin be banned from the summit due to its involvement in the Ukraine crisis.
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that the G-20 Summit should remain an economic forum for global issues. "One opinion said that Putin should be present and face an international challenge regarding Ukraine," said Bishop.
REUTERS | AL-JAZEERA | ABC
