Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is hatching a secret plot to champion Moscow's involvement in any future Middle East peace deal in a huge diplomatic boost for the embattled Russian president.
But he risked opening up a rift with his Western allies including Britain and America, who have railed against Russia's involvement in Syria and its support for brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad.
In an about-turn that will raise eyebrows among Western leaders, the Japanese PM said: "Dialogue with president Putin is very important."
At the same time as he offered an olive branch to the Kremlin, Mr Abe also risked stoking growing tensions with his nearest military and economic powerhouse, China.
Speaking to the Financial Times, he blasted Beijing's massive military building programme in the disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Russia was booted out of the G8 group of wealthy nations after it angered the West by annexing Crimea in 2014.
But Mr Abe said: "I need to seek solutions regarding the stability of the region as well as the whole world.
"I believe appropriate dialogue with Russia, appropriate dialogue with president Putin is very important."
Tokyo's apparent call for compromise with the Kremlin throws up new challenges for Britain and America, who are conducting their own airstrikes in Syria.
Russia has been accused of targeting moderate Syrian rebels - who are backed by the West - as well as ISIS fighters.
Mr Putin has not ruled out offering asylum to hated president al-Assad and any attempt to work with Russia could stoke fresh tensions over how to deal with the Syrian dictator.
Aside from solving conflicts in the Middle East, Tokyo and Moscow have their own diplomatic spat to resolve over Russia's military buildup on the Kuril Islands.
Moscow is planning to expand its controversial building programme on the Pacific Ocean archipelago and also stands accused of annexing the occupied Japanese islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai Archipelago.
Russia, 70 years after the end of the Second World War, has still not signed a peace treaty with Japan.
But both sides have been brought together by the recent testing of an H-bomb by North Korea.
Vice-president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party Masahiko Komura met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the issue during his Russia visit and both nations are united in their opposition to Kim Jong-un's nuclear programme.
Japan to make Russia pact? Japanese PM says world must talk to Putin to solve crises | World | News | Daily Express
