I believe that a country, Russia in this case, which can defend the honour and dignity of its citizens, protect their lives, and fulfill its international legal commitments under the peacekeeping mandate, will not find itself in isolation, no matter what our partners in Europe or the United States may think, expressing their bloc mentality.

The Prime Minister [Shindzo Abe] and I will negotiate proceeding from our national interests: the interests of Russia and the interests of Japan. We should find a compromise.

I'm convinced that a person in my position must provide a positive example to people.

I was told that [Japan journalists] wanted to see my dog, Yume. You can see that she is in great shape.

We didn't have any relationship at all with Trump.

If European countries want to cater to U.S. foreign policy interests, I don't think that they stand to gain anything.

[Egon] Bahr even said: If Russia agreed to the NATO expansion, he would never come to Moscow again.