Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press) — Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono will visit Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, for three days from May 9, it was learned Monday.

Tokyo hopes to advance a peace treaty negotiations with Moscow, ahead of a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Osaka in June.

Meanwhile, the Russian government has not changed its stance.

The two countries are unlikely to reach a broad agreement in June as the Japanese government planned. It is also unclear whether Kono’s visit will bring about a positive outcome.

Lavrov is scheduled to visit Japan in late May. During his stay, he is expected to meet with Kono and attend a so-called two-plus-two meeting of the two countries’ foreign and defense ministers.