Putin says peace deal with Japan more important than economic interests

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that reaching a World War Two peace deal with Japan was more important than Russia's economic interests.

"For me the most important thing is to sign a peace deal (with Japan) because that would create the conditions for long-term co-operation," Putin told a news conference in Tokyo after meeting Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook.