Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left for Russia on Sunday for talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Abe will become the first Japanese premier in 10 years to officially visit Russia, local media reported, saying the summit with Putin on Monday will highlight their efforts to restart stalled talks on the bilateral territorial dispute, which has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty following the end of World War II.

Abe said at Haneda airport before his departure that he hopes to "build personal trust with Putin" and "make the visit an opportunity to restart the stalled bilateral talks for a peace treaty," Kyodo News Agency reported.