Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that his country is ready to continue talks with Japan toward a postwar peace treaty despite speculation in Moscow that last year's constitutional amendment would prohibit the country from committing to negotiations to resolve a territorial dispute with Tokyo.
"Both Russia and Japan share the strategic interest in concluding a peace treaty," Putin said in response to a question from Kyodo News during an online news conference involving major press agencies around the world.
"We are ready to continue negotiations," he said.