Russian President Vladimir Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin, sitting on a stage alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, proposed on Wednesday that the two men sign a peace treaty by the end of this year.
The two countries are in dispute over a chain of Pacific islands and as a result have still not formally ended their World War Two hostilities.
"An idea has just come into my head," Putin said, turning towards Abe, during a question and answer session at an economic forum in the Russian city of Vladivostok.
"Let's conclude a peace treaty before the end of this year, without any pre-conditions."
Abe, sitting alongside Putin, did not give his response.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday he wanted to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un but there had been no discussions to arrange any summit.Speaking in Vladivostok at an economic forum in Russia's Far East, Abe said it had been bold of U.S. President Donald Trump to hold a summit with Kim, and that he had high hopes for an upcoming inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang.
Japan's Abe says he wants to meet North Korean leader Kim