"The issue that has remained unresolved for over 70 years, should not be passed on to future generations," Abe said on Sunday.

"I am full of resolve to put an end to this problem by our joint efforts with [Russian] President Putin. I want to continue negotiations on the peace treaty," he noted, TASS news agency reported.

For decades, Moscow and Tokyo have been negotiating a peace treaty after World War II. The main stumbling block is the status of the southern part of the Kuril Islands.

After World War II, the whole archipelago became part of the Soviet Union. However, Tokyo disputes Russia's sovereignty over Iturup, Kunashir and Shikotan Islands as well as a number of smaller uninhabited islands called the Habomai Islands in Japan.