Sankei and Nikkei wrote that Japan and Russia are planning to convene a meeting of vice foreign ministers in Moscow on Thursday regarding the proposed conclusion of a peace treaty. Deputy Foreign Minister Mori will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Morgulov to arrange a session between Foreign Minister Kono and Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov ahead of a planned Japan-Russia summit in Osaka on the margins of the G20 summit in late June. A bilateral security dialogue involving the two nations’ high-ranking defense officials will also be held there on the next day.