Putin: Russia wants to sign treaty with Japan to end WWII

Russia wants to sign a peace treaty with Japan to finally end World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday alongside Japanese leader Shinzo Abe.

"We have once again confirmed our interest in signing such a document," Putin said in televised comments after meeting with Abe in Moscow.

The development of bilateral economic ties was a focus of their meeting, Putin said.

Bilateral trade increased over the first 11 months of last year by 18 per cent to about 20 billion dollars, Putin said.