Sankei reported from Moscow on Saturday that Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov held a New Year’s press conference on Friday and disclosed that he is coordinating with the Japanese side to visit Japan “within two to three months.” The Russian foreign minister also reportedly reiterated his view that the U.S.-Japan alliance is becoming a hindrance to signing a peace treaty between Japan and Russia. The daily said that while Lavrov expressed hope to hold a “substantive and open dialogue” with Japan, he reiterated the view that the Northern Territories are an “integral part of Russia’s territory.”