YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, August 12. /TASS/. Moscow maintained constructive relations with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other leaders with regard to the Kuril Islands issue but Tokyo has now changed its position, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an address delivered during the Pacific Fleet’s drills.

According to him, the Soviet Union and Japan signed a declaration in the mid-1950s that opened the way to a peace treaty and, consequently, a solution to the issue of the Kuril islands. However, Tokyo later refused to abide by the declaration. Nevertheless, Russia accepted the Japanese government's request to resume dialogue on a peace treaty.

"Back then, we established constructive relations with a number of Japanese leaders, including former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who later died in a tragic incident. He did a lot to bring Japan and Russia closer together and narrow the differences between our positions. Now, unfortunately, we can see changes in their position, and I would like to emphasize that we in no way provoked this," the head of state noted.