TOKYO, June 24 : Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called on Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to play a constructive role in finding "peaceful and diplomatic solutions" to the crisis in Ukraine, after the EU agreed to prolong sanctions against Russia.
During a 30-minute evening teleconference, Abe requested that Putin implement fully the Ukraine ceasefire deal agreed in February, Japan's foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. On Monday, EU foreign ministers formally agreed to prolong until January 2016 punitive economic sanctions against Russia aimed at ensuring it fully implements Ukraine peace accords.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday extended a ban against most Western food imports for a year after EU foreign ministers agreed to prolong sanctions against Moscow over the Ukraine conflict until January 2016.
"The government turned to me with an appeal to extend the measures," Putin told a government meeting.    ?AFP