Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Vladimir Putin agreed to continue dialogue over the dispute over the Russian-held islands off Hokkaido.

Abe and Putin said Sunday they remain committed to the Russian leader making a visit to Japan, but they stopped short of stating the timing — effectively abandoning any possibility of a trip by the end of this year.

They held "candid" discussions about how they can resolve the territorial dispute that has marred postwar relations between Japan and Russia, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said.

The dispute has prevented the signing of a post-World War II peace treaty.

The leaders compared notes over the issue based on a 2013 agreement to seek a settlement acceptable to both sides, Seko said.

The leaders agreed only that Putin should visit Japan when it is "most appropriate," Seko said.

Abe had tried to realize a visit by Putin by the end of this year, but Japanese officials backpedaled on the idea after Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited the islands in July.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian media that Putin expressed hope during Sunday's meeting for Abe for visit Russia in the future. Seko declined to comment on this.

Russia seized Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets at the end of the war.

Abe's government originally tried to arrange a visit by Putin to Japan in 2014, but Tokyo reconsidered the schedule after Russia abruptly seized Crimea from Ukraine in March that year.

Japan joined the United States and European countries in placing sanctions on Russia in protest, saying the international community will not tolerate any change in status quo by the use of force.