MOSCOW, May 30 (News On Japan) - Akie Abe, widow of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, visited the Kremlin on May 29th and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the meeting, Akie was seen tearfully listening to Putin’s words, reflecting the emotional nature of their exchange. Following the conversation, she was invited to ride in Putin’s official limousine to the Bolshoi Theatre, where the two attended a ballet performance together.
The visit marked a rare and highly symbolic encounter, underscoring lingering personal ties between Russia and Japan despite strained diplomatic relations.
Putin welcomed Akie Abe with a bouquet of flowers and expressed deep respect for her husband's legacy. He recalled their 27 meetings during Abe's tenure and highlighted Abe's aspiration to conclude a peace treaty between the two nations—a goal hindered by the longstanding territorial dispute over the Southern Kuril Islands (known in Japan as the Northern Territories). Putin acknowledged that current geopolitical tensions, particularly due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and Japan's support of Western sanctions against Russia, make such a treaty unfeasible at present.
Akie Abe, moved by the tribute, expressed gratitude for the dialogue her husband shared with Putin and emphasized the importance of continued cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Japan and Russia, despite current challenges.
Following the meeting, Putin invited Akie Abe to attend a performance of 'The Little Humpbacked Horse' at the Bolshoi Theatre, providing his presidential Aurus limousine for her transportation.
Source: SankeiNews
