TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday he has earned U.S. President Donald Trump's backing in seeking closer ties with Russia in a bid to resolve a long-standing territorial row over islands off Hokkaido that are claimed by Japan.
"President Trump understands Japan's (policy) to promote dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve the territorial issue," Abe told a TV program after returning from the United States, where he held his first summit with Trump on Friday and Saturday in Washington and Florida.
Trump has adopted a softer stance toward Russia than his predecessor Barack Obama, who was at odds with Putin over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria.
The Obama administration had been cautious about Abe courting Putin with economic cooperation and even requested that he refrain from visiting Russia at one point, government sources said earlier.
Abe also said that he agreed with Trump on the need to engage in dialogue with Putin to resolve outstanding global issues, including Syria and Ukraine.
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