The Russian government has told Japan that President Vladimir Putin will not visit unless Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida swiftly completes his plan to visit Moscow, sources close to bilateral ties said.

The Kremlin wants Kishida to attend a bilateral ministerial-level meeting on trade and economic issues, but Tokyo has put its reply on hold because it is a sensitive matter for the United States and European countries that have, together with Japan, slapped sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to hold talks with Putin on the sidelines of a regional summit in Beijing later this month, during which Putin might propose inviting Kishida to Russia.