Lavrov says Obama tried to stop Japan improving ties with Russia

 

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a farewell address at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. January 10, 2017. REUTERS/John Gress

 

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Obama administration tried to stop Japan improving ties with Russia and receiving President Vladimir Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

 

Putin visited Japan in December.

 

Russia and Japan signed numerous economic deals during Putin's visit but made no big breakthrough on a territorial row that has over-shadowed ties since World War Two.

 

(Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Andrew Osborn; Writing by Alexander Winning and Katya Golubkova; Editing by Maria Kiselyova)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-1-17

And the point of this article is?

4 hours ago, Emster23 said:

And the point of this article is?

Nothing was accomplished. Russia is like China they are not going to give up an inch of land without a fight. 

"A Japanese spokesman, however, reiterated Japan’s policy that any joint economic activity should not infringe on Tokyo’s legal claim to the [Kuril] islands." http://www.voanews.com/a/japan-russia-summit-economic-deals-no-treaty/3638773.html

I don't see why Obama would object to such deals, especially when they mostly relate to energy development. Probably just one more anti-obama snippet by the Russians before they have to pretend satisfaction with Trump.